THE HOME DIMENSION IN RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES': EXPLORING THROUGH VISUAL METHODOLOGY EDUCATOR'S PRACTICES AND IMAGINARY OF 'HOME' IN ALTERNATIVE CARE SPACES. FIRST REFLECTION ON METHODOLOGY

This contribution presents the first reflections on methodology of the PhD project ‘The home dimension in residential care homes'. The project explores how professional educators use the idea and the materiality of 'home' in educating children in Residential care homes (RCH). The study adopts the collective case study strategy to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. The interdisciplinary perspective of the study braids the pedagogical and geographical gaze, given the complex nature of the construct of 'home.' The research design draws three main phases. The first phase includes the collection of individual interviews with the educators in the RCH. Walking interviews were used, and graphic representation was produced to explore the functions, meanings, and pedagogical practices related to RCH spaces. In the second phase, a process of Participants-generated photography was led. The third phase involved focus groups with the educational teams, where participant-generated photographs were presented to conduct the photo-elicitation process. The analysis process is still under development and follows the phenomenological-hermeneutic direction. The adoption of a multi-vocal research methodology, characterized by a large use of visual materials, presents potentialities and criticalities that need to be explored. This study contributes to the pedagogical research field, which embraces the human context marked by complexity and highlights the importance of exploring the home dimension in alternative care for professional educators.