Poetic Inquiry as Research: A Decolonial Guide

by Heidi van Rooyen (Editor), Raphael d'Abdon (Editor)

Overview

Poetic inquiry is an arts-based approach integrating the humanities and sciences to enhance the quality of social science research and its dissemination.

This insightful guide sheds light on the transformative power of poetic inquiry in academic research. Blending poetry with scholarly work, it offers practical advice on crafting research poems, distinguishing them from literary poems and determining when and how to incorporate them into your studies.

The book:

- helps researchers to explore and express their research creatively;

- emphasises diverse and decolonial viewpoints and paths to knowledge;

- features methods, case studies, prompts and exercises from the Global South and North.

Perfect for researchers eager to explore new dimensions of expression, this guide enriches all aspects of the research process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447373230
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	06/24/2025
Series:	Creative Research Methods in Practice
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Heidi van Rooyen is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington. Prior to this, she was an Executive at the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa and chaired the Consortium on Advancing Poetic Inquiry in the Global South.

Raphael d’Abdon is Research Fellow at the Department of English Studies at the University of South Africa. He is a member of the research projects Consortium on Advancing Poetic Inquiry in the Global South and ZAPP (The South African Poetry Project).

Table of Contents

1. Embracing poetic inquiry as a decolonial research method - Heidi van Rooyen and Raphael d’Abdon

2. The way of poems - Kirsten Deane, Raphael d’Abdon and Angela Hough

3. Taking poetry into research - Angela Hough, Yvonne Sliep and Heidi van Rooyen

4. Navigating ethical territories in poetic inquiry - Yvonne Sliep, Angela Hough and Duduzile S. Ndlovu

5. Assessing the craft and reach of poetic inquiry - Duduzile S. Ndlovu and Heidi van Rooyen

6. Conclusion - Raphael d’Abdon and Heidi van Rooyen