Portfolio of artifacts: Promising data for qualitative research

This article describes a data collection method that arises from a fresh application of the portfolio/artifact concept. An extensive search of the literature on data collection methods for qualitative research produced papers and chapters on portfolio (for assessment purposes) and artifacts (for stimulating recall, case study and narrative inquiry). However, nothing was found to resemble the method that follows. It has proved to be a very powerful tool in our research with gifted children, although it does appear to be seldom used elsewhere and, as such, requires further investigation.