capture the essence of emotions being felt, the implicit emotion or the emotion that is hidden under the surface. These simply give a close
approximation of how a participant feels. Generalisation can therefore be seen as a limitation of these methodologies.
Vince & Broussine's (1996) visual participatory method may offer a solution. The method enables emotional contents of the mind to be revealed through images. It can illustrate those feelings that individuals are not aware of, that are difficult to articulate and can counteract emotional regulation efforts. The collaborative aspect yields benefits not possible with standard interview techniques as the iterative interpretative work can reveal aspects of collective emotional experience.
Participants are asked to interpret their own and then other people's illustrations, promoting
dialogue. It can reveal links between an individual's real and imagined idea of the organisation and some of the key factors in the emotional and political relations that undermine change, such as poor communication. It offers opportunities to engage overtly with researcher bias and triangulates well with other qualitative methods such as semi-structured interview and observation data. Several researchers have used
actions after the exercise was discussed. It was agreed that actions suggested by the group would be considered for implementation.
The study is based on the participatory visual
method described by Vince & Broussine (1996) because involving participants in the generation of data is a dynamic means of generating rich emotional data. Access to this group of colleagues was for 45 minutes so this short timeframe limited methodology options. The main reason for using this method was informed by Warren & Parker's (2009) “third party effect”. This explains how discussion is always easier when there is something to talk about and potentially uncomfortable personal talk is deflected since conversation is “flowing through
the image” thus moving the spotlight off the participant. This will also contribute to that safe environment. The expected “third party effect” is central to this study.
It is important to ensure a very clear and well- bounded space and time for the visual data collection. Therefore, the study was introduced the day before the exercise so that participants had time to consider participating. They were provided with information on the method, instructions for their task and the objectives of the exercise. Because participants and
this method with successful results, among them researcher were not aware of the emotions that Meyer (1991) and Kearney & Hyle (2004). However, Ashforth & Humphrey (1995) warn that this methodology is complicated, multi-layered and risky as it is not known beforehand what emotions will surface. It therefore poses an ethical question for the researcher that needs careful management.
were going to be generated, it was not possible to fully explain what the experience itself would reveal beforehand. It was therefore very important to be clear that the focus was on the interpretation of the drawings rather than the drawings themselves, and that the drawings
Study Approach and Results Even with an awareness of the complexity of
were not going to be used in therapeutic interventions but to generate data. Participants were asked to sign an information/consent form if they agreed to participate.
emotions, the benefit of emotional awareness and working with emotions is clear. The assertion On the study day: that the organisational culture will have a bearing on emotional states and displays has formed the theoretical platform for this study.
The Approach
This study occurred during the planning stage of the amalgamation of the ABES and three other education/training services. The sample in this study consisted of 16 members of the ABES, 2 male and 14 female. 7 of the group had middle management roles, 1 a senior management role and the other 8 were tutors. The age range was from late 30s to early 60s. Ten participants were concerned about their lack of drawing abilities, but agreed to participate. Permission was sought and received from senior management before proceeding. The feasibility of taking intervention
1. Participants were asked to illustrate how they
felt about change, qualifying the objective with, “What you feel may be based on real, assumed or imagined thoughts, this doesn't matter, what matters is how you feel. How does change make you feel?” 10 minutes were assigned for the illustration. Participants were provided with a blank A3 sheet and coloured pencils and asked to reflect on their drawing and commit 4-6 words to the back of the picture confirming this reflection. The methodology differed from the original method at this stage; participant names and locations were not requested in an attempt to increase anonymity.
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