Critical social psychology, qualitative research and on being a research butterfly/magpie: 'Feel the fear and do it anyway'.

This article focuses on Hannah Frith's work as a critical social psychologist specializing in qualitative and creative qualitative research methods to explore intersections of sexuality, gender, and embodiment. Frith discusses the evolution of qualitative research in psychology since the 1980s, emphasizing its potential to connect with participants' lived experiences and challenge dominant social discourses, particularly through feminist and intersectional lenses. She highlights the benefits and challenges of creative qualitative methods, such as photo-elicitation and story completion, noting their capacity to engage participants and disrupt traditional power dynamics while acknowledging that not all participants respond positively to such approaches. Frith also reflects on the future growth of qualitative methods, including digital and AI-enhanced techniques, and underscores the importance of incorporating feminist perspectives that critically address power relations in research. Finally, she encourages qualitative researchers to embrace curiosity and experimentation when branching out into new methods.