Abstract
The focus of this article is on the use of poetry as a medium for qualitative research. The methodologies for qualitative data collection and positions of the role of poetry as a tool within disparate disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, business, and medicine are reviewed. The ways in which poetry may be useful to provide insight and critical perspective to research are examined. Examples of studies using poetry as a catalyst or evaluative tool are provided. The advantages and disadvantages of using poetry in qualitative research are noted.