Question

What is photo voice ? How is it used in qualitative data analysis ?

Answer 1

Photovoice is a qualitative research method of utilizing a specific photographic technique for community-based participatory research. The method was discovered by Caroline C. Wang of the University of Michigan and Mary Ann Burris, the Program Officer for Women's Health at the Ford Foundation in China, in 1992. Photovoice helps in the recording, documentation and analysis of real life community situations. It has also been termed as picturevoice. Via the process of photovoice, people can represent and improve their communities. Photovoice is effective in allowing people to document and analyze the strengths and concerns of their communities. It helps in producing knowledge and raising critical opinions about major concerns. Photovoice essentially helps in approaching the policymakers, to eradicate community problems and enhance the community. It has been globally utilized for community development and public health and education.

Basically in photovoice participants take pictures to highlight their community conditions and then perform qualitative data analysis, based on photographic evidences. In this method, the researchers provide cameras to people with a major concern. The participants are asked by the researchers to capture scenes in photographs, which are based on dominant themes. Via the photographs, the participants represent their communities and express their opinions about community problems. Then large and small group discussions on the photographs are held. Policymakers are approached to intimate them about which parts of a programme or service should be sustained and which parts require changes. Community concerns, community assets, experience of participants related to something, likes and dislikes of participants, the positive and negative outcomes of an event or public facility are some of the themes based on which photographs are taken. Presently, photovoice is being utilized along with collaging, drawing and mapping.