The use of vignettes in research with young children

Abstract

The use of vignettes (short stories based on hypothetical scenarios and fictional characters that unfold through a series of stages) as a research method has been explored in social science research since 1950. Vignettes in research aim to gather data based on people’s beliefs, values and experiences, and they allow actions in context to be explored in participants’ own terms. The main strength of the method is that it is not asking participants to discuss their own experiences diretly, but to respond to the story with what they think a third person might respond. In early childhood research, there is limited research in exploring this method with young children under the age of 5. Thus, this chapter, based on my own research using vignettes, explains what vignettes are and how they can be used in research with younger children. It is argued that vignettes can become part of the repertoire of participatory methods as they offer insights on children’s lives because they seek for personal meanings and real-life experiences, especially with topics that are abstract, sensitive and/or complex. It will conclude that vignettes have the potential to engage children to participate in research topics that may have remained untapped using standard methods.