Capturing Time in Qualitative Longitudinal Field Enquiry - Timelines, Relational Maps and Future Accounts: Timescapes methods guides series 2012 Guide 5

This guide explores the generation of timelines and relationalmaps by research participants, as mechanisms for capturing time in Qualitative Longitudinal (QL) field research. As well as situating these approaches within the relevant methodological literature,we examine the rationale for the use of these graphic elicitation methods within QL research. We go on to document the application of ‘participant diagramming’ and ‘future narratives’ within theTimescapes Young Lives and Times (YLT) project, giving examples of the kinds of data produced by the young people in the study. Our aim in this guide is to illustrate the value of using these techniques to draw out and complement data generated through in depth interviews. The techniques explored here have particular value as tools to ‘think with’, enabling the joint construction of temporal insights by researchers and participants in QL research.