Photovoice: process

Each participant will capture an image (or several) in response to the question/statement they are provided. Participants will then gather to share their photo(s), to dialogue and develop themes. It is important to ensure participants have cameras for the first stage (photography) and allow an hour for the second stage (group conversation about participant photos).

Optimal time for group conversation: 60-90 minutes depending on number of participants.
Group size: 3-15 (although this can be scaled to include large numbers of participants).
Total time: 1 day-2 weeks, depending on the topic.

Stages – (adapted from Flum, Siqueira, DeCaro & Redway, 2010)

1. recruitment and scheduling
2. orientation (may be combined with no. 1)
3. photography
4. debriefing, categorization, and prioritization; — Data Theming (audio record)
5. report back to community and decision-makers — Your Final Report

Planning

• Create one guiding statement or question that is based on your inquiry topic (mainly open, guided by key and sub questions) for participants to submit a photo using the question as their guide and create questions (maximum three) for the conversation session
  • Decide group size, select and invite participants, confirm (time, date, directions to conversation venue)
  • Prepare instruction guide for participants, pilot test

• Prepare consent forms required (if applicable): 1) consent to participate in the inquiry, and if applicable 2) consent from participant in the photo,
  • Check venue for conversation session (sufficient size, comfortable, layout, safe, accessible)
  • Check recording system (plus written notes?), flipchart paper etc.
  • Note taker as well as facilitator? Clarify roles.

Facilitation

• Send instruction guide to those participants that accepted your invitation to participate. Include consent forms they may need
  • Conversation session: Intro – confirm consent (incl. audio or video, issues of confidentiality, inability to withdraw individual comments); place images on wall or flipchart(s); set room up in a circle seating arrangement
  • Begin session with a reminder of topic, purpose; encourage participants to freely respond to the questions posed; ask they retrieve their photos and refer to it when answering the questions; engage participants to identify themes
  • Employ strong listening and inclusion skills, non-judging
  • Finalize with summary statement and thank participants
  • Report back with final research results and ask their feedback

Resource bank

Bendell, K., & Sylvestre, J. (2016). How different approaches to taking pictures influences participation in a photovoice project. Action Research. doi:10.1177/1476750316653812

Hall, B. (2014). International Participatory Research Network. In D. Coghlan & M. Brydon- Miller (Eds.). The SAGE encyclopedia of action research. (Vol. 9, pp. 454-456). London: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezpoxy.royalroads.ca/10.1425/9781446294406.n163

Palibroda, B., Krieg, B., Murdock, L., & Havelock, J. (2009). A practical guide to photovoice: Sharing pictures, telling stories and changing communities. The Prairie Women’s Health Centre. Retrieved from: http://www.pwhce.ca/photovoice/pdf/Photovoice_manual.pdf

Prins, E. (2010). Participatory photography: A tool to empowerment or surveillance? In J. Hughes (Ed.), SAGE visual methods. (Vol 8, v4-221-v4-239). London: Sage Publications Ltd. Retrieved from: http://srmo.sageput.com/ezproxy.royalroads.ca/view/sage-visual-methods/SAGE.xml

Sutton-Brown, C. A. (2014). Photovoice: A methodological guide. Photography and Culture. 7(2), 169-185.

Wang, C., & Burris, M. A. (1997). Photovoice: Concept, Methodology, and Use for Participatory Needs Assessment. Health Education & Behavior, 24(3), 369–387.