Joint Use of e.Photoexpression© and Photonarration: What Methodological Added Value?

Abstract

Objectives: The objective is to describe the informative value and the added value of a qualitative multiphase methodology in order to investigate the conceptions of children aged 6–11 on the determinants of health and cancer.Method: This article provides an analysis of the “Determ'Ados” research protocol, a qualitative study in human and social sciences, carried out with children aged 6–11 years. This protocol, organized in three phases, addresses in the first global health with the tool “e.Photoexpression©,” in the second questions and knowledge around the topic of cancer with the tool “QC” and in the third cancer again with the “Photonarration” tool. The methodology of this innovative, open and exploratory research protocol aims to collect data relating to the experiences, declared practices and knowledge specific to each child who express themselves through photography and storytelling.Results: The analysis of the Déterm'Ados methodology reveals a density and richness of results among all the children interviewed, even among the youngest: 1,498 productions (4 productions per child) were made by 381 children resulting in a wealth of data available thanks to the multiphase protocol. This massive qualitative survey brings complementarity as the collection phases progress and guarantees continuity in the discourse of each child which allows them to deepen their conceptions and to know how they create or not meaning between the determinants of health and cancer.Perspectives: The density and quality of the proposals collected from the children reinforce the validity and rigor of the Determ'Ados methodology. Multiphase is the innovative aspect of the tools used. The e.Photoexpression© and the Photonarration are complementary and inseparable to bring out concepts on health and cancer. These research results, transferable into interventions and current practices, present prevention officers to act more effectively, closer to the conceptions and needs of children.

Girl–boy differences in perceptions of health determinants and cancer: a more systemic view of girls as young as 6 years

“…Data collection was carried out according to the Determ'ados methodology published in 2021 ( 9 ): “ Joint Use of e.Photoexpression © and Photonarration: What Methodological Added Value?” e.Photoexpression© and Photonarration are complementary and inseparable to bring out ideas about health and cancer. The Determ'Ados survey methodology, in two successive phases (e.Photoexpression© and Photonarration), therefore, allowed us to reveal that children, from a very young age, have a wide range of conceptions of the determinants of health.…”

“…Once data saturation had been achieved, convergent points were grouped by a block of meaning ( 12 ): the larger the block of meaning, the closer we came to the domain; the smaller the block of meaning, the closer we came to the category. We constantly went back and forth, providing feedback at all levels: between the source data, the conceptual and theoretical model of health determinants ( 9 ), and exchanges with the multidisciplinary research team. All this to-ing and fro-ing enabled us to maintain the authenticity and accuracy of the data and the granularity of the source data to avoid over-interpretation.…”

“…Our team has developed methodologies for collecting and analyzing mass qualitative data, enabling us to measure how a cohort identifies and prioritizes preventive interventions ( 9 ). To survey a large population, the use of images proves highly relevant.…”

“…Combined with a mixed analysis of data and their pictorial representation in the form of qualitative mass data modeling, these data collection tools are deployed specifically for children and teenagers ( 9 , 11 ). Our study makes it possible to identify global and collective trends within a group as well as the most fragile individual profiles or those who are more at ease.…”