Missing People and Fragmented Stories: Painting Holistic Pictures through Single Pen Portrait Analysis (SPPA)

Abstract

A pen portrait is an analytical technique for analysing, condensing, and depicting qualitative data from participants that can also incorporate themes or patterns. Pen portraits are a useful qualitative analytical technique that has not been adequately explored. A review of the use of pen portraits indicates that researchers have employed them in different ways across a variety of disciplines. These studies do not provide sufficient detail to enable researchers to understand the analytical process or undertake pen portraits and therefore be able to apply this. This scarcity of detail 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). This qualitative analytical technique 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 for completing this type of analysis. This guide is offered alongside two worked examples from the authors’ doctoral research projects to help researchers apply this analytical technique in practice. A tentative critical analysis of SPPA is offered. Finally, there is an argument for qualitative researchers to access the untapped potential of pen portraits by creatively engaging with them.