Drawings, Photos, and Performances: Using Visual Methods with Children

Abstract

Children have largely been overlooked as research participants in anthropological work. The anthropology of childhood has played an instrumental role in bringing attention to this fact, and it has highlighted important contributions children's viewpoints can make to our discipline. In this article, we present three case studies that involved children as active participants through the use of visual methodology: Vindrola-Padros's research in Argentina used drawing techniques to document children's experiences of oncology treatment; Johnson's work in Kenya used photovoice with children living in orphanages to understand their coping strategies; and Pfister's study in Mexico City looked at how combining dance and drama encouraged participation among deaf and hearing children. [agency, children, drawings, performance, photovoice, visual methods] bs_bs_banner

Photographs as a Research Tool in Child Studies: Some Analytical Metaphors and Choices

“…Cook & Hess, 2007)  Taking photographs, increasingly, can be done without needing special technical skills either on the part of researchers or childparticipants -in contrast, for example, to drawing, which relies on children's competence in drawing painting and potential insecurities children may have about their drawing capacity (particularly in school settings) (e.g. Cook & Hess, 2007;Johnson, Pfister, & Vindrola-Padros, 2012)  The tangible nature of (taking) photos helps focus attention and discussion on relatively abstract concepts and topics (e.g. Capello, 2005;Cook & Hess, 2007).…”

“…the teacher) -while drawing is in some contexts associated with school activities (e.g. Capello, 2005;Johnson et al, 2012).  It helps establish rapport with children, making the research process fun, and allowing children to take control and actively participate in research (especially with photovoice method) (e.g.…”

“… It helps establish rapport with children, making the research process fun, and allowing children to take control and actively participate in research (especially with photovoice method) (e.g. Baker & Smith, 2012;Clark, 1999;Cook & Hess, 2007;Johnson et al, 2012)  It offers flexibility and autonomy, allowing the children to take the research to other spaces and moments that are difficult to observe directly (Baker & Smith, 2012;Crivello et al, 2009;Young & Barrett, 2001)  Photographs taken by children can act as a tangible representation of children's interests and provide insights into children's perspectives (e.g. Cappello, 2005;Cook & Hess, 2007).…”

“… In case of the case of photovoice approaches, children are involved not only in data generation but in analysis simultaneously, as they at the very least interpret the research prompt from their own perspective (e.g. Clark, 1999;Johnson et al, 2012). Photographs are a flexible material and tool, offering different ways in which they can be used in research with children.…”

Children’s voices in mini soccer: an exploration of critical incidents

“…Often, versions of events can be lost in translation, misinterpreted or even overlooked if children's power of speech is not acknowledged. 50 True accounts from children often go under reported or unsupported, 51 can be extremely brief, overlooked or merely glossed over in favour of an author's perspective or agenda. 52 As noted by Kirk,53 research with children tends to be unequal in terms of the power relation between children and adults.…”