Intergenerational Collaborative Drawing: A Research Method for Researching with/about Young Children

Abstract

THIS PAPER FOCUSES ON the methodological effectiveness of intergenerational collaborative drawing (ICD). A group of eight researchers trialled this particular approach to drawing, most of them for the first time. Each researcher drew with young children, peers and tertiary students, with drawings created over a period of six months. The eight researchers came together in a 'community of scholars' approach to this project because of two shared interests: (i) issues of social justice, access and equity; and (ii) arts-based education research methods. The researchers were curious how ICD might methodically support their respective research processes.

Countering Epistemological Exclusion Through Critical-Ethical Research to Support Social Justice

“…Drawing based research is not merely about providing paper and pens (Knight et al, 2015). The work of Elden (2012) demonstrates how a well-developed drawing task, in her case draw your day and concentric circles of closeness, enable the researcher and child to democratically co-create meanings.…”

“…Literat (2013) also used drawing to shift power from the researcher to the participant. Artwork is so well established in research that it is a method in itself -arts-based education research (ABED) (Barone & Eisner, 2012;Knight et al, 2015).…”

Collaborative Drawing: Upgrading Creativity for Early Childhood

“…Intergenerational collaborative images are perfect for use in early childhood contexts where young people may be participants, or subject to research projects. In this article it is proposed that [22]:  Collaborative images can be an effective method of research, for academics with different levels of experience in drawing themselves and / or collaboratively; and  Collaborative drawings are also available and function for researchers in line with various theories and concepts surrounding the development of young people.…”

Collaborative drawing: A creative tool for examination of infant–toddler pedagogical practices

“…Drawing together provides opportunities to discuss drawn intentions, ideas and create discussion (Knight, et al, 2016). Drawing can also be a novel method for data gathering and offers the capacity to document thoughts and provide multiple interpretations (Knight, McArdle, Cumming, Bone, Li, Peterken & Ridgway, 2015). Very few research studies have used collaborative drawing as a methodology to generate knowledge of pedagogical practice (Knight et al, 2015(Knight et al, , 2016.…”

“…Drawing can also be a novel method for data gathering and offers the capacity to document thoughts and provide multiple interpretations (Knight, McArdle, Cumming, Bone, Li, Peterken & Ridgway, 2015). Very few research studies have used collaborative drawing as a methodology to generate knowledge of pedagogical practice (Knight et al, 2015, 2016). In this paper, we argue collaborative drawing offers valuable opportunities for infant–toddler educators’ generation of pedagogical knowledge.…”