‘Participatory’ visual research revisited: A critical-constructive assessment of epistemological, methodological and social activist tenets

Abstract

The current proliferation of often not so distinct ‘participatory’ approaches and labels (photo-voice, photo-novella, community video, auto-driven photo-elicitation) can be traced back to two distinct techniques or research approaches with a long history – namely the use of visual stimuli in an interview situation and the idea of stimulating the field to produce its own imagery with respect to a certain issue. This article aims to clarify the specific strengths and weaknesses of the different options in participatory research as well as interrogate their underlying goals (e.g. scientific knowledge production versus social action/awareness) and their largely undisclosed assumptions. To illustrate and explore the main techniques discussed in this article, excerpts and a brief discussion of a number of inspiring student projects in participatory visual research have been inserted throughout the text.