A Meaningful Method: Research with Adolescent Girls Who Use Crystal Methamphetamine

Abstract

Embarking on a study in which we hope to gain a contextualized understanding of the experiences of adolescent girls who use crystal methamphetamines, it is crucial for us to select a research methodology congruent with our aims. In the current article, we share the theoretical basis and decision making process that has lead us to a multi-modal method integrating images along with dialogue in the interviews. We provide a rationale for our belief that the knowledge and meanings that emerge throughout this process are co-constructed by researchers and participants together. We believe it is helpful for researchers to consider the social responsibility and ethical implications that come with research before data collection begins. Thus, an explicit discussion of the very real impact and potential of qualitative research is introduced here as connections between qualitative research methods with Child and Youth Care practice are highlighted. Our intention is not to present findings as this is an in-progress study, but to open the floor to further questioning and dialogue along a similar vein. Our hope is that such dialogue can render qualitative research that is more relevant to the very complex lives to which we aim to contribute in our studies and practice.

Facilitating Self-Reflection: The Integration of Photovoice in Graduate Social Work Education

“…Participants usually either write an accompanying narrative or share their responses in a debriefing discussion session (Rodriguez-Jimenez & Gifford, 2010). After researchers provide participants with a span of one -two weeks for data collection (Newbury & Hoskins, 2008), participants typically engage in debriefing, whether individually, in groups, in writing, or in combination of these modalities. Researchers then analyze both the narratives describing the images and the images themselves.…”

“…As participants photograph images in response to prompts, they reveal insight into their own perspectives and values. Furthermore, as photovoice often elicits personal responses and histories, an emotional aspect is common in this type of approach (Newbury & Hoskins, 2008). This process, in itself, may be valuable for students majoring in helping professions as they will experience unanticipated emotional reactions while working with clients; assimilating emotional processes while in the classroom can prepare students for later social work practice (Chung, 2010).…”

Seeking Solutions Without Centering Problems: From Research to Practice

“…Rather than relying entirely on interviews, our research involved a photo elicitation process adapted slightly from photovoice (see Newbury & Hoskins, 2008). Each of our participants was provided a camera, a journal, and some very general questions 1 explore their experiences through photography.…”

“…Engaging youth who are addicted to substances through the use of photo elicitation has a number of individual and collective therapeutic implications. It is the implications of photovoice for therapeutic practice, not research (Newbury & Hoskins, 2008) or social change (Wang et al, 2004), to which we will turn for the remainder of this paper. In the following sections, then, we will draw from the (a) research findings to inform a (b) discussion of (c) implications for practice, rather than addressing each of these aspects of the study as if they are distinct.…”

El consumo de inhalables en las prácticas de socialidad de dos grupos de estudiantes de secundarias públicas

“…Para analizar los videos se siguió la metodología visual o photo elicitation, [19][20][21][22] en tanto que ha sido recomendada para estudiar el consumo juvenil y adulto de distintas sustancias, [23][24][25][26] ya que motiva el diálogo y suscita reacciones emotivas, sentimientos o recuerdos que difícilmente se producen en una entrevista tradicional, 20,21 además favorece el involucramiento y la reflexividad de los entrevistados. Esta metodología propone usar imágenes dibujadas, fotográficas, cinematográficas y video-grabadas para ser interpretadas por sus creadores, actores, testigos y por otros que sean de interés para la investigación en entrevistas en profundidad y/o grupos de discusión que buscan explorar los significados de las imágenes, lo que ocurre en éstas y lo que no se ve en las mismas.…”