Innovation in qualitative research methods: a narrative review

This paper reviews methodological innovation in qualitative research. It comprises a narrative review of 57 papers published between 2000-2009 in which claims to innovation in qualitative methods have been made. These papers encompass creative methods, narrative methods, mixed methods, online/e-research methods and software tools. The majority of claims of innovation are made for new methods or designs with under half claiming adaptations or adoption of existing methodological innovations. However,there was limited evidence of wholly new methodologies or designs; papers related either to adaptations to existing methods or innovations, or to innovations involving the transfer and adaptation of methods from other disciplines, primarily from arts and humanities. Nevertheless, these innovations have the potential to make an important contribution to qualitative research practice. The rate of diffusion of the innovations appears greater for visual, performative and narrative approaches. Ways to share developments in ‘routine’ innovations of established methods need to be identified.