Reconfiguring Photovoice for Psychological Research

Abstract

An argument is made that the incorporation of visual data into psychological research would yield a range of benefits. Specifically the photovoice method, as developed by Wang and colleagues (Wang & Burris, 1997 Wang, C and Burris, M. 1997. Photovoice: Concept, methodology, and use for participatory needs assessment. Health Education and Behaviour, 24: 369–387. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), is advocated for use within psychology. Because it was originally developed for, and utilised within, sociology there is a need to reconfigure photovoice in order to better fit psychology’s needs. To this end, adaptation of the method’s original sociologically focussed aims are suggested. Additionally, because of the rigorous nature of psychological research, an explicitly detailed analytic process is required. It is suggested that, because of the characteristics of visual data, taking an approach founded upon hermeneutics and phenomenology is appropriate. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith & Osborn, 2003 Smith, J.A. and Osborn, M. 2003. “Interpretative phenomenological analysis”. In Qualitative Psychology: A practical guide to methods, Edited by: Smith, J.A. 51–80. London: Sage. [Google Scholar]) is therefore recommended as a highly appropriate form of analysis when using the photovoice method in psychological research.