The PhotoStory Method as a Legitimate Research Tool in Evaluations: More than a Nice Story

Abstract

THE INTENT OF THIS REPORT is to examine the use of the PhotoStory method as a qualitative component of the KidsMatter Early Childhood (KMEC) mixed-method evaluation. One hundred family and staff photographers, at 10 early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across Australia, participated in the PhotoStory study by taking 162 photographs to illustrate children's social and emotional learning. Educators provided photographs to show how KMEC had affected them and their work practices. Analysis of the photos and stories underscores the importance of social cultural aspects of children's social and emotional learning. Findings provided evidence of the personal as well as professional changes that staff attributed to KMEC. The PhotoStory method used was an effective and powerful research tool providing unique rich and informative qualitative data as part of an evaluation study. This study suggests that the PhotoStory methodology deserves its place among the suite of qualitative data collection approaches available to researchers undertaking mixed-method evaluation studies.