Prof. Alvarez-Hernandez Reveals the Hidden Potential of Creative Writing for Qualitative Research
Novice and seasoned academics alike can lose sight of writing’s contribution to the research process. Undervaluing writing in this way can lead to stale and oppressive research practices. To counter this trend, Prof. Luis Alvarez-Hernandez from BU School of Social Work encourages academics to unlock new possibilities in qualitative research through creative writing. “Writing is understood as just the output, the necessary vehicle for communicating the interesting, provocative, and world-changing research that is the ‘actual point’ of doctoral work,” says Alvarez-Hernandez. However, “far from a peripheral task, writing is an integral part of being and becoming an academic.”
His paper, “Epistemological Weaving: Writing and Sense Making in Qualitative Research with Gloria Anzaldúa,” shows his step-by-step creative process for composing a recent research article to more deeply understand his qualitative data. “The academic writing process can be daunting, especially for those of us who struggle to cement our thoughts in sterile style and composition,” he says. “This is a paper I would have liked to have read on my own doctoral journey.”
The Co-Collaborative Nature of Research & Writing
Alvarez-Hernandez specifies that writing doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it is a constant collaboration between the writer and everything and everyone the writer comes into contact with. In particular, his understanding of the writing process draws on the collaborative practices of Latina and Chicana feminists like Gloria Anzaldúa, who shifted away from the traditional understanding of writing as an individual pursuit. As a Chicana theorist, Anzaldúa’s approach opened doors in Alvarez-Hernandez’s research he would not have otherwise found. “Anzaldúa offered an entry point to reimagine, interrogate, decolonize, and queer qualitative research design and data analysis,” says the author. The paper weaves together the many influences of his research, including:
- Assignment excerpts and notes
- Feedback from his mentor and co-author
- Course narratives from Alvarez-Hernandez and his mentor
- An overview of Anzaldúa’s work
- Quotes from Anzaldúa on the writing process
- The writer’s reflections on the research and his influences
“As we weave together our reflections and thoughts, we do not make causal claims—that something the mentor did, produced something Luis thought, or something Luis asked, produced something the mentor taught,” they clarify. “Instead, we offer our entwined writing around doing~teaching~thinking~becoming to explore the creative process of learning and thinking.”
Creative Writing Prompts for Researchers
Alvarez-Hernandez ends the paper with a collection of questions researchers can ask themselves to deepen their work. Their open-ended nature encourages academics to make their influencers an active part of their research through creative writing. For instance: “Imagine your theorists at the kitchen table with you, looking over your shoulder as you write. How would they chime in? Where would they disagree? How would they interact with your participants?” These entry points will help researchers–particularly those new to qualitative research–confront common academic barriers in their work.