Missing people and fragmented stories: painting holistic pictures through Single Pen Portrait Analysis (SPPA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT A pen portrait is an analytical technique for analysing, condensing, and depicting qualitative data from participants that can also incorporate themes or patterns. A review of the use of pen portraits indicates that researchers have employed them in different ways across a variety of disciplines. The scarcity of methodological detail in these articles makes it difficult to engage with pen portraits as a trustworthy form of qualitative analysis. This paper outlines the authors’ approach called Single Pen Portrait Analysis (SPPA). SPPA was used by both authors, to overcome the issue of fragmented people or experience during their initial analysis. This paper describes ways that researchers could identify SPPA as a useful approach for answering their research question, and then details a step-by-step guide. This guide is provided alongside two worked examples from the authors’ doctoral research projects. A tentative critical analysis of SPPA is also offered. .