The Clip Approach: A Visual Methodology to Support the (Re)Construction of Life Narratives

Qual Health Res. 2021 Mar;31(4):789-803. doi: 10.1177/1049732320982945.

Abstract

Major life changes may cause an autobiographical rupture and a need to work on one's narrative identity. This article introduces a new qualitative interview methodology originally developed to facilitate 10 prostate cancer patients and five spouses in the (re)creation of their life narratives in the context of a series of interventive interviews conducted over a timespan of several months. In "The Clip Approach" the interviewees' words, phrases, and metaphors are reflected back in a physical form ("the Clips") as visual artifacts that allow the interviewees to re-enter and re-consider their experience and life and re-construct their narratives concerning them. Honoring the interviewees as authors facilitates autobiographical reasoning, building a bridge between the past and the future, and embedding the illness experience as part of one's life narrative. The Clip Approach provides new tools for both research and practice-potentially even a low-threshold psychosocial support method for various applicability areas.

Keywords: Finland; autobiographical reasoning; autobiographical rupture; illness experience; interventive interview; interview methodology; life narrative; narrative identity; narrative-hermeneutic method; prostate cancer; psychosocial support method; qualitative; spouse; visual artifact.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Male
  • Narration*
  • Problem Solving*
  • Surgical Instruments