ABSTRACT
The use of creative qualitative methodologies in research with children is now a taken for granted aspect of the research process backed up by a wide knowledge base that spans disciplines and that describes: the methods, their application, the theoretical standpoints underpinning their usage, ethical issues, and the benefits and limitations of employing such methodologies (see review by Winter, 2014a). In one sense it could be argued that there is little new to say. However, the literature often lacks a detailed exploration of particular methods as applied in the research process, their transformational properties and possibilities as well as some of the limitations. It is within this context that the focus of this chapter is a detailed consideration of two arts based methods (picture construction and reality boxes) that I applied in research with young children ages 4-7 years old in ‘out-of-home’ care to elicit their in-depth experiences, perspectives and feelings about their lives at home; their knowledge of the reasons behind the transition into ‘out-of-home’ care; their experiences since moving including their involvement in decision making. The chapter will consider children’s engagement in the research process, strengths and weaknesses, the impact of the methodology to our understanding and future directions. The chapter will end with three practical tips for students planning to undertake research with young children using these methods.
