Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
9-2025
Abstract
Engaging homeless populations in biographical research is often hindered by the deep-seated distrust and trauma that characterize their lived experiences. This study introduces a methodological approach that transforms this hurdle, turning the research interview into an empowering and collaborative encounter. Using a combination of the Life History Calendar (LHC) and biographical narratives, we explored the complex life transitions of 15 individuals living on the streets and in a cemetery of Metro Manila, Philippines. The LHC served as a co-constructed visual scaffold, enabling participants with low educational attainment and histories of trauma to recall and structure their life stories with remarkable clarity and detail. Our findings show that this method significantly enhanced data accuracy and provided a framework for tracing the accumulation of disadvantages over the life course. More importantly, it fostered a safe and trusting environment that empowered participants, validating their experiences and giving them agency in a process from which they are often excluded. While navigating disclosures of trauma requires careful ethical consideration, the method also revealed therapeutic potential, allowing for emotional relief and reflection. This article advocates for the wider use of this integrated approach as a powerful tool to ethically generate the rich, participant-centered data needed to challenge systemic failures and inform effective social interventions.
Recommended Citation
Reyno, I., Quetulio-Navarra, M., & Van der Vaart, W. (2026). The grid and the story: Integrating life history calendars with biographical narratives for collaborative qualitative research. ArchIum Ateneo. https://archium.ateneo.edu/
