Challenges of using participatory and creative approaches within qualitative research

In recent years, research articles highlight the benefits of participatory and creative methods in yielding richer data and in better addressing the power differentials between researchers and the researched. However, reports on problematic issues in relation to the introduction of creative, participatory, collaborative elements are less prominent. In my paper, I explore the challenges and less successful aspects of the making processes and creative methods. My research relates to the construction of identity of academics diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a complex, contested syndrome characterised by widespread pain, chronic fatigue, sleep problems, psychological disorders, and cognitive dysfunctions and is on the cusp of the physiological, psychological, and somatic. To encourage participants to reflect on, make sense of, and express their experiences, which are usually difficult to express in words, I use making and doing. Participants complete an identity box, which requires them to find objects representing their responses to questions such as “Who are you?,” “What affects you?,” or “How do others see you?.” Interestingly, academics are reticent to embrace creative methods and approaches. This experience of academics struggling with the participatory elements as research participants is in stark contrast to the increased trends towards these approaches. Additional challenges for using creative methods are issues around time and commitment leading to high dropout rates, which is also due to the disabling and unpredictable nature of fibromyalgia. Drawing on my research data and experience, I will conclude with reflections on the difficulties relating to the analysis of nontraditional, “messy” data.