Transformational Dramaturgical Longitudinalism (TDL): A Participant-Led Methodology for Researching Stigmatised Embodiment Over Time

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Richardson, LD orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-4900-6943, Cronin, C orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-1687-4437, Millward, P orcid iconORCID: 0000-0001-8003-1840 and Davies, I orcid iconORCID: 0000-0003-3722-8466 (2026) Transformational Dramaturgical Longitudinalism (TDL): A Participant-Led Methodology for Researching Stigmatised Embodiment Over Time. Qualitative Health Research. ISSN 1049-7323

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Abstract

Fat stigma is a qualitative health research problem because fat bodies encounter persistent moral surveillance in daily life. In response, many fat people present a socially acceptable ‘front’ to clinicians and researchers. Existing qualitative approaches are therefore somewhat limited to capturing frontstage performances rather than participants’ more personal ‘backstage’ reflections. In response, this methodological paper introduces transformational dramaturgical longitudinalism (TDL), a novel qualitative methodology synthesising Goffman’s dramaturgical theory with longitudinal, participant-led design. Comprising a three-stage design, involving two interview cycles and asynchronous written correspondence, TDL was developed via an 18-month study with eight self-identified fat women. This development advances qualitative health research via participant-led pacing and narrative sovereignty; emotional and structural reflexivity as methodological resources; Goffman’s dramaturgical architecture operationalised as a design principle not analytic vocabulary; and ongoing consent and narrative revision rights as core ethical architecture. Scope conditions support transferability of TDL to future research projects involving stigma.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 11 Medical and Health Sciences; 16 Studies in Human Society; 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences; Nursing; 42 Health sciences; 44 Human society
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions: Humanities and Social Science
Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date of acceptance: 14 June 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access: 27 July 2026
Date Deposited: 27 Jul 2026 10:11
Last Modified: 27 Jul 2026 14:59
DOI or ID number: 10.1177/10497323261466590
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29064
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