1. Studying identities as multimodal semiotic constructions: possibilities and challenges Mariann Märtsin School of Psychology and Counselling Queensland University of Technology, Australia 30 th September 2014 ISCAR, Sydney, Australia

2. In this presentation  Identities as multimodal semiotic constructions  Study of young Estonian students in the UK  Initial comparative analysis of life-trajectory images and interviews  Some reflections on key findings

3. Identities as multimodal semiotic constructions  Identities conceptualised as semiotic constructions that emerge from our interactions with others and allow orchestrating our being in the world (Valsiner, 2007; Holland & Lachicotte, 2007).  Identities therefore social and semiotic – a boundary process that regulates the flow of other signs and symbols between intra- psychological and inter-psychological fields (Märtsin, 2010, 2012).  Meaning making – the process of making signs – is a multimodal process that unfolds as signs in their various modes (e.g. image, writing, colour, layout, speech) are actively assembled together to respond to current and future needs and interests of interlocutors (Kress, 2010).  Consequently, investigation of identity making as part of meaning making needs to take into account this multimodality.

4. Study of young Estonians in the UK  Semi-longitudinal study (1 year)  Multiple case-study approach (N=8)  In-depth investigation, using multiple methods:  Interviews  Diary-type questionnaires  Sentence completion task  Drawing tasks  Analysis of life-trajectory images and analysis of respective interview extracts

5. Key themes from the two sources Life-trajectory images  Trajectories that were possible, but never eventuated  Visible multiplicity – lack or evidence of abstraction?  Representation of significant events – lack or evidence of generalisation? Interview extracts  Narratives of personal change/growth – looking back to look forward  Significant others – creating chaos vs. creating stability

6. Reflections on key findings  Integration of multiple experiences into multimodal assemblages of meaning important for  The researcher  The participant  Reflecting back upon vs. reflecting in the moment  Noticing the otherness within by moving between different modalitites

7. Thank you!