Timelining: visualizing experience
Open accessAbstract
This article discusses the uses and benefits of an innovative method of graphic elicitation; timelining. The method was developed in the context of a narrative-based research project on fatness and weight loss. Participants’ weight over time was plotted on a graph, informed and elaborated by a variety of material objects such as photographs, diaries, and medical records. The timeline provided a focus for participants and prompted their stories of weight loss experiences over time. While initially intended as a simple heuristic tool for eliciting talk, over the course of the research the process of timelining became a central feature of the project. Timelining is a subtle and malleable research method. While keeping time in view, timelining documents, records, extends and deepens understandings of participants’ past experiences. It encourages the construction of rich temporal narratives. It also provides opportunity for a deeper researcher-participant relationship to develop. This form of graphic elicitation has particular value for narrative forms of research.
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The timeline was used to explore together with the participant the meaning and dimensions of their memories and stories, which revealed nuance and complexities of migration decisions.
“Second, rather than leaving the interpretation of the autobiographical narrative to the researcher, the timeline was used to explore together with the participant the meaning and dimensions of their memories and stories (Sheridan, Chamberlain and Dupuis, 2011), which revealed nuance and complexities of migration decisions (Gauntlett, 2007, in Bagnoli, 2009).”
From Back in Time? A Temporal Autobiographical Approach to Afghan Return Migration (2025) · cites this paper as Sheridan, Chamberlain and Dupuis, 2011
The participatory analysis of the timeline became a vehicle for new reflections and interpretations on the course of participants' lives.
“Although the drawing itself produced brief information in its own right (Pain and Francis, 2003), the participatory analysis became a vehicle for new re fl ections and interpretations on the course of my participants ' lives (Sheridan, Chamberlain, and Dupuis, 2011).”
From Back in Time? A Temporal Autobiographical Approach to Afghan Return Migration (2025) · cites this paper as Sheridan, Chamberlain, and Dupuis, 2011
Cites
Elfhag, K., & Rössner, S. (2005) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2005.00170.x · Cited by 1,343 · cited 1× · see citing works
“These women had lost an amount of weight ranging from 23 to 62 kilograms which represented 27 to 44 percent of their body mass and had sustained their weight loss for at least five years; a difficult task (Crawford et al., 2000; Elfhag and Rossner, 2005).”
BackgroundDenzin, N. (2001) · doi:10.4135/9781412984591 · Cited by 915 · see citing works
Mannay, D. (2010) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/1468794109348684 · Cited by 386 · see citing works
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Back in Time? A Temporal Autobiographical Approach to Afghan Return Migration
van Houte, M. (2025) · International Migration · doi:10.1111/imig.12610 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“…had come to a natural end by arriving in the present, I asked participants to draw a little summary of that full story in a graphic timeline, which served as a minimally structured, accessible, creative and participatory method of graphic elicitation (Sheridan, Chamberlain, and Dupuis, 2011).”
BackgroundMethod
- Authors
- Sheridan, J., Chamberlain, K., & Dupuis, A.
- Affiliations
- Massey University (NZ)
- ORCID
- Chamberlain, Kerry
- Venue
- Qualitative Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 552-569
- ISSN
- 1468-7941 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-3109
- OpenAlex
- W2003414629
- Cited by
- 225
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 10.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Qualitative Research (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Participatory Visual Research Methods
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative research in health
- Keywords
- visual methods, temporal narratives, weight loss, adiposity, narrative research, researcher-participant relationship, time in research, participant experiences
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