The objective is to report on the experiment of the use of Dough Modeling, while a projective technique, as a strategy for data collection in the qualitative research in health and nursing. Hence, this research was performed based on the Theory of Social Representations, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, with 30 women. The technique consisted of offering modeling dough to women who, while handling it, brought the significance of the contamination of human breast milk by virus, reporting it verbally. The results showed that women expressed not only tactile sensations but also visual and emotional sensations, materialized in the modeling, presenting the meaning immersed in their imaginary. The technique allowed expression of creativity and sensitivity, because through the art of modeling, women showed latent emotional content, and was proven to be a projective technique that is sensitive, affective and effective strategy of data collection for qualitative research in the area of health and nursing.
Qualitative research; Data collection; Projective techniques; Nursing