An exploration of social justice intent in photovoice research studies from 2008 to 2013

Abstract

In an age where digital images are omnipresent, the use of participant photography in qualitative research has become accessible and commonplace. Yet, scant attention is paid to the social justice impact of photovoice among studies that have used this innovative method as a way to promote social justice. There is a need to review this method to understand its contributions and possibilities. This literature review of photovoice research studies 1) explores whether authors implicitly or explicitly related the methodologies to their aims of promoting social justice (methodology-method fit), and 2) outlines the social justice research impact of photovoice findings using the framework of social justice awareness, amelioration, and transformation. PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from the years 2008–2013 using the keywords: photovoice; photonovella; photovoice and social justice; and photovoice and participatory action research. Of the 30 research studies reviewed, only thirteen identified an underlying methodology guiding the photovoice method. The social justice impacts emphasized were more related to social justice awareness (n= 30) than amelioration (n= 11) or transformation (n=3). Future researchers using photovoice as a way to promote social justice are encouraged to assess and plan for the social justice impact desired.

Strengthening Community Capacity for Environmental Health Promotion through Photovoice

“…Most capacity‐building activities occurred at the individual level. These findings are consistent with other housing‐related photovoice studies that faced similar challenges in reaching systemic change (Grieb et al., ; Halifax, Yurichuk, Meeks, & Khandor, ; Parker et al., ; Sanon, Evans‐Agnew, & Boutain, ). Recommendations to facilitate system‐level change through participatory research include inviting policy stakeholders to participate (Sanon et al., ), hosting trainings on the policy‐making process, working with policy mentors, and using mass media to advance policy awareness (Postma et al, ; Minkler et al., ).…”

Utilizing Photovoice to Support Indigenous Accounts of Environmental Change and Injustice

“…With the rise of digital photography, the ability to collect participant-generated photographs in qualitative research has "become accessible and commonplace" (Sanon et al 2014). Common participant-generated visual methodologies that use photographs include Photo-elicitation, PhotoStory, and Photovoice.…”

Illuminating the On‐Campus Experience of LGBTQ Students Through Photovoice

“…A criticism of photovoice that emerged from a comprehensive review of recent studies is a lack of focus on ameliorative social justice impact. Although increased awareness is an important element of photovoice, efforts toward actions that mitigate factors that lead to unjust conditions are critical (Sanon et al, 2014). Therefore, in our study, we used participant‐identified advocacy items to inform the agenda of the community forum, linking research to transformative policy change.…”

“…After the identification of a particular priority reached through engagement with the community, researchers invite participants to document salient experiences through photography and to share and reflect on these photographs in a series of large‐group discussions. Photovoice is specifically designed to enable participants to reach policy makers (Wang & Redwood‐Jones, 2001), with an important consideration in reporting findings being the dissemination of qualitative results and photographs to the larger community to promote change (Sanon, Evans‐Agnew, & Boutain, 2014). A comprehensive review of studies using photovoice supports its application as an effective methodology for facilitating community change (Hergenrather et al, 2009) and as an innovative practice for counseling research (Smith, Bratini, & Appio, 2012).…”