1. Emma Bartlett Using photo-elicitation research
The Constance Owens
Trust
Using photo-elicitation research
with older people affected by
multiple long-term conditions,
reflections from a novice researcher
Emma Bartlett
Post Graduate Research Student
University of Huddersfield
@OTBartlett

2. Summary Brief introduction to my research topic Why use photography?
Photo-elicitation and Photovoice, are they the same?
How did I do photo-elicitation?
What have I learned/ what would I do differently next time?

3. What are my goals?
To improve understanding and challenge existing ‘taken for granted’ assumptions about this group
To influence service development and improvements
Why this topic?
To help to raise the profile of occupational therapy research and the benefits of its occupational perspective.
Rapid transformation of services
Personal and professional interest. :
Exploring the lived experience of older people who are affected by multiple long-term conditions

4. How to investigate? Interpretive paradigm Qualitative.
Methodologies I could have used…
Ethnography
Phenomenology
Grounded theory
Narrative enquiry
Case study

5. Phenomenology (meaning making method of enquiry)
Phenomenological health research can provide a window into others’ experiences (Dew 2007).
Phenomenology (meaning making method of enquiry)
“Phenomenologists seeking to explicate “lived experience” need above all to do justice to the phenomenon under study; research methods need to be responsive to the phenomenon, towards capturing something of its “is-ness.”
(Finlay 2014:121)

6. How can I use photography in research?
Why photography?
How can I use photography in research?
Photovoice or Photoelicitation ?
Don’t confuse the two, they are fundamentally different…..
Creative, occupational method
Conference inspiration – the power of photograph based research
Participant led and holistic

7. Photovoice (C, Wang 1997) Community-based participatory research
(CBPR)
Partnership approach to research. All partners contribute expertise and share decision making and ownership
Equitable involvement in all aspects of the process.
community members
organisational representatives
researchers
Photovoice (C, Wang 1997)
(a type of Community Based Participatory Research)
People (usually with limited power) take photographs capture aspects of their lives to share with others.
Aim = to highlight the realities of their lives to the public and policy makers and to spur change
‘PhotoVoice’ are an international charitable organisation that promote and support this type of research

8. Photoelicitation
Use of photographs as an extension of a qualitative interview
= Photo-elicitation interview (PEI)
Researcher is ultimately in control of the research question, data and findings
The text from the interview is the data, not the photographs
Photographs are being used as a tool to help capture the ‘is-ness’ of the phenomenon being studied.
Participant driven (open)
Participant driven (semi-structured)
Researcher driven
This is the method I used
Bates, McCann, Kaye & Taylor (2017) “Beyond words”: a researcher’s guide to using photo elicitation in psychology, Qualitative Research in Psychology, 14:4,

9. Data gathering…the practicalities… what did I do?
Participant pack
Camera
Contact details for researcher
Notebook and pencil
Brief photography guidance sheet including how photography can be used to depict abstract concepts
Safety advice for photographers
Information leaflet
Gaining informed consent to participate

10. Digital cameras
With ‘easy mode’ simple to use
Participants could view their photos using the cameras screen
Participants could delete any photographs from the camera that they did not wish to share
Training in photography (if needed)

11. Cameras left with participants for at least two weeks
Time to take photographs that represented their own experience of life affected by multiple long-term conditions
It was left completely with participants to decide what they wanted to depict
Three consent forms
Participant consent form,
Consent form for participants to use with people who may appear in their photographs
Consent form obtaining consent for specific images to be used

12. Photoelicitation interview (PEI) Audio recorded
Introductory discussion
Capacity to consent
Pseudonym
Age and social situation
Long-term conditions
Participant driven (open) interview
Photos taken provided structure for the interview and determined what was discussed
Control of the interview process was with the participant as they explained what each photograph represented
Active listening & probing questions used to deepen understanding.

13. A few photos that have been discussed

14. Advice: What have I learnt so far…?
Can you tell me more about that?
Photoelicitation is a very rewarding methodology Very holistic.
Some people are scared by the task – taking photos. Need reassurance and guidance
Make your various consent forms look visually different
PEI to gain deep understanding is very different to ‘OT assessment conversations’. Coaching conversations training has helped.
‘Listening to understand v waiting to speak’
List of prompt questions is helping me to stay on track
I can see you were thinking about that. Can you tell me what your thoughts were ?
What does that
mean to you?
Can you say more about that?
What did you
mean by….?

15. Photography in research at a glance
Photovoice
Community-based participatory research 
Equitable partnership approach to research. All partners contribute expertise, share decision making and ownership
Photo images are used as a tool to highlight the realities of lives to the public and policy makers and to spur change
Photoelicitation
Photographs used to inform the content of an interview
(photo-elicitation interview)
Researcher is ultimately in control of the research question, data and findings.
Transcribed text from the interview is the data, not the photographs.
Interviewing skills are important

16. References
Bates, McCann, Kaye & Taylor (2017) “Beyond words”: a researcher’s guide to using photo elicitation in psychology, Qualitative Research in Psychology, 14:4,
Dew, K. (2007). A health researcher's guide to qualitative methodologies. Aust N Z J Public Health, 31(5),
Finlay, L. (2014). Engaging Phenomenological Analysis. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 11(2),
Wang, C., & Burris, M. A. (1997). Photovoice: Concept, methodology, and use for participatory needs assessment. Health education & behavior, 24(3),

17. Thank you Emma Bartlett @OTBartlett Post Graduate Research Student
The Constance Owens
Trust
Thank you
Emma Bartlett
Post Graduate Research Student
University of Huddersfield
@OTBartlett