Qualitative methods and practices in transcultural research with forced migrants: the Asylum Seekers Photographic Interview (ASPI) methodological protocol

The present study aims to describe the methodological procedures which led to the development of the ASPI, a photoelicitation method aimed at exploring the life stories of Nigerian asylum seekers. The purposes of the manuscript are to share a research and methodological protocol for the development of similar methods as well as, through this, to extract and offer some methodological and operational research practices and criteria useful for transcultural research with forced migrants. The questioning attitude of researcher, intended as a methodological praxis in transcultural research, combined with the psychological function played by participatory research, which also engages a ‘third gaze’ on the traumatic experiences of asylum seekers, will be discussed to highlight and reflect upon the potentialities of qualitative research in this field.