Photo Interviews With Children: Relating the Visual and the Verbal From a Participation Perspective

Abstract

Abstract:The integration of visual prompts into qualitative interviews is regarded as a useful tool in attempting to give children the possibility of verbalizing memories and describing abstract issues. Furthermore, photo interviews are supposed to promote children's participatory research experiences. Less attention has been paid to how visual and verbal elements may be interrelated throughout the research process. Drawing on data from an Austrian empirical study with 50 children aged 10 years, the objective of this paper is to describe the combination of visual and verbal data in detail. Special emphasis is put on identifying factors that influence children's participation. The potential and limitations of photo interviews as a participative method of conducting research with children are elaborated. Although this approach does not per se decrease power differentials, enhance participation, or respect children's agency, it has a high potential to facilitate such action, if applied carefully, critically, and conscientiously.

Challenges and Solutions in Ethnographic Research

“…The method allows the possibility to overcome some disadvantages that conventional interviews with children present. It may, for example, be challenging for children to verbalize memories, to find the right words to describe abstract processes; or they may tire quickly during interviews (Zartler 2014), feeling that the themes proposed by adult researcher are not relevant to them. As compared to interview, storycrafting and drawing call for different kinds of co-operation between the participants.…”

Psychosocial resources contributing to resilience in Austrian young carers—A study using photo novella

“…The current study may be classified as a “photo novella” in which the participants were encouraged to take photographs to illustrate aspects of their lives and also talk and reflect upon them (Close, 2007). Such participant‐produced photographs are an especially useful technique in studies with children, as their photographs may help them during interviews to better recall, verbalize, and describe complex situations, feelings, and experiences (Balmer et al, 2015; Close, 2007; Zartler, 2014). Assigning children with the task of taking photographs related to the research topic may also more actively engage them in a participatory research process and be an enjoyable activity by itself (Zartler, 2014).…”

“…A major constraint for research with young carers is methodological, as children may have difficulties verbalizing ideas and describing abstract issues in strictly verbal interviews (Zartler, 2014).…”

“…Complementing verbal interviews with visual media, such as participant-produced photographs, maybe an appropriate methodological response to this problem (Harper, 2002;Zartler, 2014).…”

“…A major constraint for research with young carers is methodological, as children may have difficulties verbalizing ideas and describing abstract issues in strictly verbal interviews (Zartler, 2014). Complementing verbal interviews with visual media, such as participant‐produced photographs, maybe an appropriate methodological response to this problem (Harper, 2002; Zartler, 2014).…”