Insights on the ‘Draw-Write-Tell’ Technique: A Powerful Approach to Researching Vulnerable Populations

Building on a qualitative study conducted with children with chronic illnesses and their siblings, this presentation aims to explore the methodological issues related to recruiting and engaging vulnerable populations in research. This technique emphasizes children's unique interpretations by allowing them to articulate their thoughts through their drawings and accompanying text. While the draw, write, and tell technique has effectively explored children's perceptions of chronic illness, this study marks the first application of the technique to investigate siblings' experiences . By centering children and young people in the research process, this approach empowers them to take control of the data they generate and offers them the opportunity to interpret their own contributions. The findings indicate that the methods selected for conducting research with these groups are crucial for participant recruitment and engagement. Using the draw-write-tell technique, children with chronic illnesses and their siblings were able to express their feelings and experiences regarding their illness journey. This presentation will provide evidence of how the draw-write-tell technique serves as a powerful tool for conducting research with vulnerable populations.