Different ways of seeing: Exploring audience reactions to images of probation supervision

Abstract

<jats:p> Participatory visual research methods like Photovoice have become increasingly popular in social science research over the past two decades. While the benefits for co-researchers are well-established, audience studies remain relatively scarce. This represents an important gap in knowledge, especially since advocacy for social change is regarded as a core goal of Photovoice research. The authors aim to contribute to the nascent audiencing literature by exploring the responses from an audience of criminal justice stakeholders to an exhibition of photographs produced by people under probation supervision in Dublin, Ireland. The discussion begins with a critical reflection on the researchers’ experience of curating a Photovoice exhibition. Next, audience responses to the images are explored, including the extent to which intended messages reached the target audience and encouraged them to reflect more deeply on the meaning of supervision. Finally, the implications for audiencing studies are considered, particularly the challenge of managing inter-subjectivities in the data analysis process. </jats:p>

What is digital transformation? Investigating the metaphorical meaning of digital transformation and why it matters

“…(2018) mentioned how biological ecosystem metaphors improved the comprehension of business ecosystems; similarly, Gök and Kara (2022), through metaphors, revealed individuals’ social conceptions of COVID-19 pandemic. Metaphors, according to Healy and Fitzgibbon (2020), are symbolic way of seeing and a means of simplification (Schmitt, 2015). In this light, how can drama , war and pregnant elephant metaphors symbolically simplify DT and broaden our understanding of it?…”

A legitimate business? Representations of privatised probation in England and Wales

“…The concept of ‘probation’ therefore conveys a certain contingency, a period of testing and conditionality. While recent research has explored the experiences of such conditionality, and indeed has utilised visual methods to do this (see, for example, Healy and Fitzgibbon, 2019; McNeill, 2018), the reality is that conditionality or contingency is by its very nature quite difficult to convey.…”

Faceless, voiceless child – Ethics of visual anonymity in research with children and young people

“…Both cases stress that visual expression is not significant only to its creators but also to its audiences (also Healy & Fitzgibbon 2020. The by-passing teacher in Finland was negatively affected by the photo she saw, and the Australian schoolchildren missed seeing the videos of their classmates.…”