Building visual worlds: Using maps in qualitative psychological research on affect and emotion

Article


McGrath, L., Mullarkey, Shauna and Reavey, Paula 2019. Building visual worlds: Using maps in qualitative psychological research on affect and emotion. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 17 (1), pp. 75-97. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2019.1577517
AuthorsMcGrath, L., Mullarkey, Shauna and Reavey, Paula
Abstract

One challenge facing psychological studies of affect and emotion is how we can capture the situated, located assemblage of practice involved in affective experiences: the where, how, when, who, and what of affective meaning making. Here we argue for a place for map-making in the methodological toolbox of qualitative Psychology. Participatory mapping is a well-established technique used in geography, planning and community development, with a growing tradition in psychology and sociology. The examples drawn upon here are from two studies, exploring experiences of space in mental health service use, and in an intentional community for people with learning disabilities. Mapping is argued to be useful both as a process and product within the construction of sense making in qualitative research. Particular strengths are argued to be: locating specific affective experiences, exploring layers of ambiguous or contradictory experiences, and making materiality visible in participants’ narratives. The potential of mapping as a tool for qualitative research in affect and emotion is discussed.

JournalQualitative Research in Psychology
Journal citation17 (1), pp. 75-97
ISSN1478-0887
Year2019
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Accepted author manuscript
License
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2019.1577517
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2019.1577517
Publication dates
Online14 Feb 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited14 Dec 2018
Accepted03 Dec 2018
Accepted03 Dec 2018
Copyright information© 2018 Taylor & Francis. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Qualitative Research in Psychology on 14/02/2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14780887.2019.1577517.
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