Incorporating Visualisation in Qualitative Retrospective Interviews to Elucidate Temporality: A Methodological Illustration of L2 Motivational Dynamics

Abstract

This paper illustrates the development of a visual-based qualitative retrospective approach to data collection that enables learners to reflect on and uncover developmental trajectories in language acquisition. Often, interviews are used in applied linguistics research to encourage participants to reflect retrospectively on their learning; however, they may be ineffective at capturing temporality because of recall bias. To address this limitation, art-based methods are claimed to enhance participants’ retrospection. We illustrate their use in a study designed to depict learners’ mental self-visions across motivational trajectories. With the dynamic turn in applied linguistics research, Dörnyei’s (2009) Second Language (L2) Motivational Self System opens up new possibilities for examining learners’ motivation as a temporally focused trajectory. To capture the temporal sensitivity of motivational dynamics, we designed visual imagery drawing tasks and integrated visual motivation graphs into narrative interviews to trace self-guide development and to collect L2 learning experiences retrospectively. This methodological design contributes to our understanding of how participants interpret the past and navigate their futures, while providing a methodological blueprint that researchers can use to adopt similar methods in retrospective interviewing. Although self-report data collection methods such as interviews offer participants sufficient freedom to express their experiences, incorporating referential visual aids alongside verbal accounts may enhance the overall trustworthiness of retrospective accounts of learning over time.