Abstract:
Photovoice is a particular approach to research that
emerged in the 1990s in response to wider developments
related to the transformative potential of qualitative
research. Researchers more formally recognised the power
they held in the relationship to their participants and
began to feel uncomfortable about the
researcher-researched hierarchy. As a result, trends moved
towards participatory and creative approaches to minimise
these hierarchies, to reduce the power differentials
between participants and researchers, and to equalise the
responsibility amongst the stakeholders within the
research (e.g. Wang and Burris, 1994, 1997). In addition,
smartphones, tablets, or action cameras have eased
availability of and accessibility to relatively cheap and
simple means for recording through photography. Where once
detailed knowledge of the photographic process may have
been required to enable individuals to capture meaningful
information and data, editing apps and software further
facilitate the development of photography. As a result,
research projects employing photographs became more
prominent (e.g. Blinn and Harrist, 1991; Schwartz, 1989;
Niessen, 1991).
Nowadays, photovoice takes many different forms with
boundaries between photovoice, photo elicitation, photo
diary methods and photo documentaries often being blurred.
To untangle this web, I have reframed photovoice and photo
elicitation as Photovoice as a framework and Photovoice as
a method (Brown, 2024).
Aim:
This workshop is an introductory session on how Photovoice
may be used as a framework and as a method.
The aim is to help delegates understand the intricacies
and practicalities of Photovoice as a framework and
Photovoice as a method.
Structure:
In this workshop, I offer an introductory session on how
Photovoice may be used as a framework and as a method. I
will begin by outlining the main principles of photovoice
in its original intention and sketching out how photovoice
research has developed since. We will discuss the
foundations of photovoice in the context of social justice
discourses, why we should be using photovoice as a
framework in research, but also how we may introduce
photovoice as a method in our existing paradigms.
References:
Blinn, L., & Harrist, A. W. (1991). Combining native
instant photography and photo‐elicitation. Visual
Anthropology, 4(2), 175-192.
Brown, N. (2024). Photovoice Reimagined. Policy Press.
ISBN: 9781447369387.
Niessen, S. A. (1991). More to it than meets the eye:
Photo‐elicitation amongst the Batak of Sumatra. Visual
Anthropology, 4(3-4), 415-430.
Schwartz, D. (1989). Visual ethnography: Using photography
in qualitative research. Qualitative Sociology, 12(2),
119-154.
Wang, C., & Burris, M. A. (1994). Empowerment through
photo novella: Portraits of participation. Health
Education Quarterly, 21(2), 171-186.
Wang, C., & Burris, M. A. (1997). Photovoice: Concept,
methodology, and use for participatory needs
assessment. Health Education & Behavior, 24(3),
369-387.
