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

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.