Toward New Understandings: An Overview of Field Development Through Critical Poetic Inquiry Research Methods

This literature review demonstrates that conducting and writing critical poetic inquiry research helps develop research representation, writing, and communication toward new understandings of phenomena—especially in research areas examining issues related to identity. Toward these ends, we first briefly describe philosophies and theories underlying poetic inquiry, beginning with a contrast between traditional research philosophies and those originating critical poetic inquiry. Then, we elaborate six specific benefits of critical poetic inquiry (i.e., representation, accessibility, nuance, pattern recognition, high-level thinking, and healing) with examples from across several research fields. Finally, we imagine additional possible benefits of poetic inquiry for further exploration in future research, making recommendations for specific topics and development of critical poetic inquiry processes, theory, and ethics.