Letter Writing: Life in Letters—A Method of Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

In the digital age, letter writing is a dying social practice (Stanley 2015). This chapter explores the ways in which this dying art has and can be used as a method of research, particularly useful in engaging hard to reach groups. Drawing together a disparate literature from English literature (Chandler 1995), criminology (Knight 2012), geography (Milligan 2005) and health care (Letherby and Zdrodowski 1995), I present an overview of the handwritten letter methods legacy; offer vignettes from my own research practice involving the experiences of criminal record holders within the labour market; provide a how-to guide for those interested in using this method to explore their own research objectives; and finally present a critical reflection that attends to the core methodological issues including analysis, ethics and data presentation.