If I had a rich picture…: Insights into the use of “soft” methodological tools to support the development of interprofessional education

Abstract

This paper describes a methodological experiment that aimed to test a small number of tools borrowed from Soft Systems Methodology. Those tools were intended to support action research for a project in interprofessional educational development. The intention with using those tools was two-fold: first, they were expected to help structure the analysis of the problem situation that the project was to address; second, they were to facilitate and document the project management process itself, by allowing for the different voices within the interprofessional project team to be heard. The paper relates how the tools functioned relatively successfully as analytical devices for the action researcher, but did not significantly contribute to further interprofessional collaboration or enhance dialogue between the action researcher and the project members. Issues of how to use the tools to support more effectively the existing dialogue across professional cultures and traditions are discussed.

Keywords:

• Interprofessional education
• curriculum development
• Soft Systems Methodology
• rich pictures
• action research

Notes

1. The name of the module has been changed so as to preserve anonymity.

2. A video trigger is a short documentary-style film that is meant to prompt (“trigger”) reflection and discussion.