The Meta Pets Method: A Card-Based Narrative Inquiry Approach for Community-Based Qualitative Research in Collectivist Cultures

Background: Traditional qualitative interview methods often face limitations when applied to low-literacy, collectivist, rural communities where verbal articulation of internal experiences may be culturally unfamiliar or uncomfortable. There is a pressing need for culturally appropriate qualitative methods that facilitate narrative elicitation through accessible, non-threatening modalities.Method Description: This paper introduces the Meta Pets Method, a novel card-based narrative inquiry approach designed for community-based qualitative research in collectivist cultures. The method employs a deck of illustrated cards featuring archetypal animal characters ("Meta Pets") that serve as projective stimuli and narrative prompts. Participants select cards, project personal meanings onto the symbolic imagery, and co-construct stories that reveal inner experiences, values, and perspectives. The method integrates theoretical foundations from narrative inquiry, projective techniques, arts-based research, and visual methods.Application Context: We describe the method's development and application with rural artisan weavers in Rajasthan, India—a low-literacy, collectivist population. The Meta Pets Method facilitated rich narrative data collection where traditional interviews might have been less effective, enabling participants to externalize emotions, explore identity, and share experiences through metaphorical storytelling.Implications: The Meta Pets Method offers qualitative researchers a culturally responsive tool for narrative inquiry in diverse contexts. It addresses methodological gaps in cross-cultural research by providing an accessible, visual, and playful approach that honors collectivist values, accommodates low literacy, and reduces power differentials between researchers and participants. The method has potential applications in community-based participatory research, health research, social work, education, and international development.