A critical appraisal of the draw and write technique

TLDR

The draw and write technique is increasingly popular in health education research with children, typically used in school classrooms as a bottom‑up approach that enhances participation. In this paper we critically appraise the use of this method. The authors examine the origins and use of children’s drawings across disciplines and practice settings to assess the draw and write method. They contend that although the draw and write technique has contributed to health education research, it fails to reflect the data‑construction process, raising methodological, analytical, and ethical issues, and they argue that research with children must treat children as serious social actors and question the assumption that drawing conveys thoughts better than conversation, advocating for research grounded in the child’s social context.

Abstract

The draw and write technique is increasingly popular in health education research with children. It is generally employed in the setting of the school classroom and is promoted as a 'bottom-up' approach which enhances participation by children. In this paper we critically appraise the use of this method. Against the background of a consideration of carrying out qualitative health promotion research with children we examine the origins and use of children's drawings in a number of disciplines and practice environments. We argue that, although the draw and write technique has made an important contribution to health education research, it fails to reflect the processes involved in the construction and collection of such data. A range of methodological, analytical and ethical issues are raised. We conclude that health education research with children must involve taking children seriously as social actors and query the assumption that drawing enables children to communicate their thought any more than does conversational language. We suggest that the development of research should be premised upon an appreciation of the social context and the world of the child.