Threading care, responsibility, and creativity into the research process.
Let’s work together and help you meet your research goals.
Our Approach
At SM Thread Research Consulting, we practice qualitative research as an act of creative resistance and care. We work alongside scholars, particularly those who hold historically marginalized identities, to (re)imagine research methods that honor lived experience and challenge harmful approaches that aim to erase, decenter, or misconstruct our stories. Drawing from both academic scholarship and the wisdom embedded in fictional stories, poetry, film, and other forms of creative expression, we craft research approaches grounded in care, responsibility, and collective liberation. Our work is driven by a fundamental belief that rigorous, community-centered qualitative research creates knowledge with the communities we engage, affirming their voices, experiences, and expertise in the process.
Four beliefs drive our practice:
We believe there is a necessary process to qualitative method-making with historically marginalized populations that requires creativity and the desire to (re)imagine and critique the go-to methods that we think we should be using or what our discipline tells us to use and why.
We believe in incorporating a wide range of non-academic (i.e., poetry, fictional literature, and other forms of media) and academic texts to inform what and how we know.
We believe that qualitative research pushes us to practice and (re)imagine liberation when we ground our work in responsibility, care, and ethical community-oriented ideals.
We believe in what qualitative research does for the communities in which we engage.
We offer customizable services for faculty and students navigating the complexities of qualitative research. For graduate students, we provide one-on-one dissertation coaching, support with applying advisor feedback, and guidance in identifying and employing creative qualitative methodologies that honor your research commitments. For faculty, we offer writing and publication support designed to help you move your scholarship forward with clarity and intention. Whether you're refining a manuscript, developing a new project, or seeking accountability and feedback, our services are tailored to meet you where you are in your research journey.
What We Offer
1:1 Dissertation Coaching
Whether you're in the early stages of conceptualizing your study or deep in the writing process, we offer collaborative support with qualitative research planning, from developing research questions and designing your study to organizing and analyzing your data.
Writing and Publication Support
We will work with you to gain conceptual clarity on developmental papers, develop strategies for project management and writing accountability, navigate reviewer feedback with confidence, and craft compelling job application materials.
Qualitative Data Analysis Support
We offer collaborative guidance on developing coding strategies, identifying and refining themes, ensuring rigor and trustworthiness in your analysis, and more. We work at your pace, helping you build confidence in your analytical decisions while staying true to your theoretical commitments and the voices of your participants.
University Workshops
We facilitate workshops for university departments, research centers, and graduate programs on topics that center on creativity, ethics, and community in qualitative research. Topics include Black feminist ethical guidelines for researching Black women and femmes in digital spaces, Black storytelling methodologies and creative writing in qualitative inquiry, and more!
Meet the Team
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Symone A. McCollum, Ph.D. (she/her)
LEAD CONSULTANT
With a vision to support scholars throughout the qualitative research process, our lead consultant brings both rigorous academic training and a deep commitment to research as a practice of care. Her approach combines methodological rigor with creative flexibility, ensuring that your research not only extracts knowledge but also builds toward collective liberation and transformation.
