Photo-elicitation and photo-voice: using visual methodological tools to engage with younger children’s voices about inclusion in education

Shaw, Patricia A.

Abstract

Whilst the importance of engaging with children’s voices is now more widely recognized, there is still a dearth of representation of younger children’s voices specifically. Visual methodological tools, such as photo-elicitation and photo-voice are used in research; however, there remains a lack of clarity about what they mean, how they are used, and whether they are effective in providing valuable insights into younger children’s everyday worlds. This paper draws on the findings of two research projects utilizing the tools to engage with the voices of 56 children aged four to five years, in the classes of three schools in the UK. It identifies the differences between photo-elicitation and photo-voice and appraises their advantages and limitations when engaging with child voice. It explores whether through careful, critical and conscientious application, these tools might advance understandings of younger children’s perceptions of matters affecting them. The definition of photo-elicitation is the insertion of a photograph by the researcher into a research interview to evoke information, feelings, and memories due to the photograph’s particular form of representation; photo-voice is defined as a technique that enables people to record their own photographs.

Citation

Shaw, P. A. (in press). Photo-elicitation and photo-voice: using visual methodological tools to engage with younger children’s voices about inclusion in education. International Journal of Research and Method in Education, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727x.2020.1755248

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 26, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 23, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 27, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 29, 2020
• Journal: International Journal of Research & Method in Education
• Print ISSN: 1743-727X
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-15
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727x.2020.1755248
• Keywords: Visual methodologies; photo-elicitation; photo-voice; engaging with voices; early childhood; education
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3500083
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1743727X.2020.1755248?journalCode=cwse20
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=cwse20; Received: 2020-01-06; Accepted: 2020-03-26; Published: 2020-04-23