The Collaborative Body in Qualitative Research: Becoming Bodyography

The Collaborative Body in Qualitative Research challenges normative philosophies that have frequently neglected the body’s place in research and then illustrates how the body is essential for all meaning making.

By ‘voicing the body’, the first part of this rebellious book problematizes how the body is used/assessed, yet often silenced in academic writing. This book then fluidly moves to celebrating the body through discussing taboo topics like sex/sexuality in friendship, underwear (knickers), ageing, and death, as well as how a non-binary body moves in a heteronormative world. Through the lens of Bodyography, this book does research differently – illuminating how the body flourishes, excites knowledge, and is complicated when placed on a ‘screen’. This book celebrates a collaborative and arts-based approach. This book is a dialogue between The Bodies Collective, with dialogic resonance sections between each chapter and art pieces throughout.

This book will encourage all scholars to do research differently. Anyone with a thirst to challenge normative practices in academia and who wants research to be inspiring and playful will fall in love with this book.

N.B. Please cite the authorship of this book as 'The Bodies Collective (2023)'

The Bodies Collective is an international group of researchers from different scientific and artistic fields. They aim to bring the body back into the focus of qualitative inquiry as a creator, explorer, and challenger of knowledge. The Bodies Collective does Bodyography, works collaboratively, and applies arts-based methods.

Ryan Bittinger is a Doctor of Psychotherapy, specialising in therapist training and relational psychodynamic psychotherapy. They are a Practice Manager of Centred Self Psychotherapy, CA & Director of Clinical Training at Maria Droste Counseling Center in Denver, CO, USA.

Claudia Canella is a Qualitative health researcher at the Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine of the University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland; a Homoeopath in her own practice in Zürich, Switzerland; and an Artist.

Jess Erb is a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and CEO/Founder of Centred Self Psychotherapy, Canada.

Sarah Helps is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist, the lead for Children's Psychological Services, and the editor of the Journal of Family Therapy.

Mark Huhnen is an Independent Scholar, Systemic Psychotherapist, Coach, and Theatre Practitioner, in London, UK.

Davina Kirkpatrick is an Artist, Independent Scholar and Visiting Specialist at the Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, UK.

Alys Mendus is a Parent, Artist, Independent Scholar, and Research Fellow in Disability Research Collaboration at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, and Casual Academic at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.