摘要：Since student lear ning and supervision are viewed as social processes, investigat ions into doctoral learning need to consider social learning theories and ways to illuminate st udent relations during this time. For such social research, interv iews are t he most extensively used instruments to gat her dat a, but the data can be enr iched by the use of visuals. This article reports on the value of two modes of graphic elicit ation interviews to delve into factors t hat impacted on t he progress of research master's and doctoral students at one university. The studies were exploratory and the approach was within t he framework of participatory visual research methodologies. The first setting involved 11 participants who were particularly successful in t he completion of t heir studies. In accordance with the socio-cul- tural theory, the st udents complet ed a diag ram in the form of a relational map, after hav ing completed a table in which t hey brainstormed t he people, art ifacts, and processes that contributed most to their success. In the second setting, 10 less diligent students were instructed to complete drawings (timelines) to illustrate their research journeys. These were guided by three quest ions to ensure t hat t he st udent s focused on the topic. In both instances, the graphics (diagram/drawing) were used to elicit interviews, which were tape recorded. In the second setting , the situated learning theory, the social capital theory, and the self-regulated learning t heory were used to analyze t he data and ident ify themes in the narra- tives. The paper highlights the advant ages and limitat ions of both methods. Both methods facilitated unexpected outcomes. The biggest advantage of drawings was that t hey were unconstrained by t he re- searcher's previous knowledge about the topic. Moreover, their greater flexibility allowed participants more freedom of expression and a stronger voice. However, the selection of visuals (such as diagrams, tables, or drawings) should be based on the specific aim s of t he research.
