Firstly, photo-documentation which is when a series of photographs are used to document a visual phenomenon, providing data for the researcher to analyse. The example used, of Charles Suchar, helped me to understand the importance of photo-documentation. Useful tips about conducting photo-documentation are explained, such as, creating a shooting script, which is a list of sub-questions, generated by the overall question, which guides a first attempt at taking photos relevant to the research question. Then codes are attached in order to help compare photos and different stories, to help answer the research question, before developing a second shooting script. However, photo-documentation is not widely used in social science as it risks creating photos that appear simply illustrative. 

 

The second type is photo-elicitation, where the research participants are asked to take photographs which are discussed in interviews. It is “based on the simple idea of inserting a photograph into a research interview” (Douglas Harper).  This is a widely used method which has lots of strengths, as it allows research participants to explain and elaborate information. This means the interviews can lead to more emotion, tone, stories, research, findings and different issues. Researchers argue that elicitation interviews with visual materials help to explore the everyday, and asking participants about the photos helps to reflect on their everyday lives. It empowers research participants because it gives them a clear and central role, and they become the ‘expert’ in the interview, alongside the photo. The examples used, helped clarify an understanding of how you can conduct your own photo-elicitation. The reader is taken through each stage of planning, analysing and presenting results, in a clear and understandable structure. However, even though this is a productive method, it is also complex with the conceptualisation status of photos, being both representative and performative.

 

The final method is photo-essays, in which a series of photos are put together, normally with text, to make an interpretation of a social situation or problem, therefore making the photographs just as important as the text. Some of the photographs may be produced by an individual, whereas some could be taken by team writers and photographers. It is not a research method, but instead it is a method to convey the findings of research to the audience, put together in a way that demonstrates what the findings are showing. Multiple things have to be considered when conducting a photo-essay. These are clearly explained through a list of questions to ask yourself when doing the research. Information of how to then put a photo-essay together is also clearly explained, providing a strong foundation for the reader about what they need to do to conduct photo-essays.

 

I found this one of the most interesting readings about research so far. I believe it would be an exciting form of research to conduct and I look forward to taking these tips about how to conduct research of the visual into the weekly task. It is interesting how it reflects on the research process rather than on the found images as the focus of research. I now understand how photographs can be used in research for many different reasons, either as evidence, or to represent, or to be performative as a visual object. Within all three methods there are areas of flexibility which would allow you to adapt it to make it most relevant to what you are researching. There is a wide range of topics that these methods can be used for: disempowered people, places, children, the homeless, therefore it is a very versatile form of research and I have high hopes when conducting it myself.