Examining Processes Using The Lifeline Interview Technique: A researcher’s note

The distinctive nature of this researcher’s note is her reflection on how the application of the lifeline technique within semi-structured interviews enhances the exploration of research participants’ accounts. As researchers, we increasingly acknowledge participants as the vital experts who willingly share their knowledge and inform our understanding of their experiences. Nevertheless, the collected data is generally directed by the applied method which might not always prompt or allow for important elements of the participants’ experience to be communicated. Drawing information from a recent research project, the paper exemplifies the application of the lifeline technique, demonstrating how this visual method allows participants to take a more active role in defining the structure and presentation of content within the interview. The researcher discusses the suitability of this tool to help participants examine aspects of their stories, by first identifying the explicit events then exploring the implicit meaning derived from these happenings. The lifeline technique is recommended as an effective way of attaining more engaged interaction and improved quality of the data.