A scoping review of the use of photo-elicitation and photovoice with autistic and neurodiverse people. Moving towards more inclusive research?

Abstract

Photo-elicitation and photovoice are tools for gathering people’s points of view and would seem especially appropriate for use with individuals whose participation in research could be compromised by the dis/ability issues encountered with a more traditional research approach. This article presents the findings of a scoping review of recent initiatives (2006 and 2020) conducted with autistic and neurodiverse people for the purpose of determining the extent to which these methods can facilitate their participation in research and support their social inclusion. We used the PRISMA method and 33 articles were selected. The relevance and feasibility of these methods has been verified. Certain aspects must be considered in the research design and throughout the process to maximize accessibility. In short, the use of photo-elicitation and photovoice are not in themselves a guarantee of emancipatory research. Points of interest Photoelicitation or photovoice are methods that use visual aids (photo, video, graphic or multimedia works) to allow participants to illustrate through images their perception of a theme or a problem, its causes and its solutions. The use of innovative methods such as photoelicitation is particularly important for the inclusion of autistic and neurodiverse people in research. We conducted a review of research published between 2006 and 2020 that used these methods with autistic and neurodiverse participants. While these methods are relevant and feasible, other aspects must be considered to maximize inclusion and accessibility. The use of photo-elicitation and photovoice is not a guarantee of emancipatory research.