My doctoral dissertation research is an investigation into the social consciousness of women activists through the use of life history collage.  Life history collage is my own invention, but arts-based research methodologies are gaining acceptance and recognition throughout the qualitative research world. 

Life history collage is essentially a timeline of one's life in which the participant collages images around significant aspects of a theme, such as empowerment, career success, trauma, development of self-esteem, etc.  The collages can be made out of a variety of materials such as magazine images, photographs, found objects, drawings or writings - whatever the participant chooses to use to represent a significant life moment.  The time line nature of the collage situates and orients the significant life experiences, inviting the researcher to view and discuss the images on the timeline and the stories and lived experiences these images represent.  

In March of 2010, I had the opportunity to travel to Kolkata, India to conduct a research project with five female non-profit leaders who run an NGO called Nishtha that works to combat poverty and illiteracy for rural women and girls through education, opportunity and self-reliance.  These women all agreed to create life history collages and after the art project was complete, I interviewed them regarding the images and words they had included in their time lines.  The beauty of the collages and the strength of the inherent meaning of the events they chose to include in their collage indicated to me that this method of revealing life history data was rich with possibility.  Not only do the collages represent significant life experiences in interesting ways, the elements included in the collage often point to a depth of reflection and revelation that may only emerge through the process of creating art. 

As I continue to explore and write about art-based research, I would love to hear from others who are interested in collage or other art-based mechanisms for facilitating data collection.  Please contact me at susan@papermosaic.net.