CARCEIT is excited to share the success of the workshop held on the 9th of September, led by Associate Professor Janet Helmer from Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education.
The workshop introduced CARCEIT researchers and Year 1 PhD students to body mapping — an innovative arts-based research method particularly useful for working with children, adolescents, and other vulnerable groups.
The workshop introduced CARCEIT researchers and Year 1 PhD students to body mapping — an innovative arts-based research method particularly useful for working with children, adolescents, and other vulnerable groups.
Body mapping is a visual, arts-based research tool that encourages participants to express their experiences, emotions, and identities through drawings on life-sized human body outlines. Scenarios are used within the body mapping method to help participants articulate their thoughts. By focusing on these scenarios rather than on individuals themselves, body mapping creates a sense of distance that can make it easier for participants to open up. While qualitative researchers typically rely on interviews, there are times when direct answers are difficult to obtain, and body mapping provides a valuable alternative for uncovering deeper insights.
Workshop participants learned the basics of body mapping, worked collaboratively in groups to write scenarios, created body maps based on these scenarios, and presented their work. The session concluded with a lively Q&A session where they exchanged ideas and reflections. It was a rewarding and engaging experience for everyone involved.
