Moving images, Moving Methods: Advancing Documentary Film for Qualitative Research

Abstract

With the widespread use of digital media as a tool for documentation, creation, preservation, and sharing of audio-visual content, new strategies are required to deal with this type of “data” for research and analysis purposes. This article describes and advances the methodological process of using documentary film as a strategy for qualitative inquiry. Insights are drawn from a multimedia study that explored Inuit-caribou relationships in Labrador, Canada, through the co-production of community-based, research-oriented, participatory documentary film work. Specifically, we outline: 1) the influence of documentary film on supporting the project conceptualization and collaboration with diverse groups of people; 2) the strength of conducting filmed interviews for in-depth data collection, while recognizing how place and activities are intimately connected to participant perspectives; and 3) a new and innovative analytical approach that uses video software to examine qualitative data, keep participants connected to their knowledge, and simultaneously work toward creating high impact storytelling outputs. The flexibility and capacity of documentary film to mobilize knowledge and intentionally create research outputs for specific target audiences is also discussed. Continued and future integration of documentary film into qualitative research is recommended for creatively enhancing our abilities to not only produce strong, rich, and dynamic research outputs, but also simultaneously to explore and communicate diverse knowledges, experiences, and stories.

Film Dokumenter Sebagai Metode Alternatif Penelitian Komunikasi

“…Metode alternatif praktik penelitian melalui optimalisasi penggunaan media audiovisual berkembang dalam ilmu-ilmu sosial pada beberapa tahun terakhir (Borish, 2021;Jacobs, 2009;Morgan et al, 2018). Metode alternatif dioperasionalisasikan sebagai cara baru dalam menjawab pertanyaan penelitian.…”

“…Ada sejumlah teknik yang dapat diperhatikan dalam film dokumenter, yaitu konten data berupa media audio-visual, proses produksi yang mencakup penulisan naskah, proses penyuntingan, dan teknik penyutradaraan (Billinge, 2017;Bradbury & Guadagno, 2020). Borish (2021) menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan film dokumenter sebagai metode penelitian bermula dari kemiripan tahapan proses yang dilakukan antara pembuatan film dengan penerapan pendekatan penelitian kualitatif.…”

“…Kamera menawarkan fitur untuk menangkap gambar aktivitas dan keterlibatan komunitas. Wawancara yang dilakukan pada saat aktivitas komunitas berlangsung memberikan pengalaman kontekstual yang lebih kaya dan mendalam (Borish, 2021). Produksi film dokumenter dan penggunaan kamera video dalam proses pencarian data mendukung anggota komunitas untuk bersedia terlibat dan berkolaborasi dalam berbagi informasi.…”

“…Artikel ini mengajukan tantangan dan pertimbangan inovasi dalam penelitian kualitatif, khususnya dalam kaitannya penelitian komunikasi. Dalam penelitian sebelumnya, film dokumenter telah disoroti kemungkinannya untuk dikembangkan dalam penelitian ranah ilmu sosial (Friend & Caruthers, 2016), manajemen dan bisnis (Morgan et al, 2018), kesehatan dan ilmu lingkungan (Borish, 2021). Film dokumenter dipertimbangkan tidak sekadar sebagai luaran penelitian, namun menjadi metode alternatif penelitian khususnya penelitian kualitatif.…”

“Sewing Is Part of Our Tradition”: A Case Study of Sewing as a Strategy for Arts-Based Inquiry in Health Research With Inuit Women

“…For populations with rich artistic traditions—such as many Indigenous communities worldwide—arts-based approaches often align with important and culturally embedded forms of knowledge-sharing ( Flicker et al, 2014 ), and thus have potential to facilitate rich dialogue within the data gathering process ( Boydell et al, 2012 ). For instance, researchers have used photovoice ( Harper et al, 2015 ; Lardeau et al, 2011 ), collaborative podcasting ( Day et al, 2017 ), digital storytelling ( Cunsolo Willox et al, 2013 ; Harper et al, 2012 ), and participatory film ( Borish et al, 2021 ; MacDonald et al, 2015 ) to engage Indigenous Peoples in community-based and community-led, action-oriented health research ( Bell et al, 2021 ; Hammond et al, 2018 ).…”