Photovoice, photos and words in social context

Owing to the rapid development of digital devices with cameras, visual methods have become more prevalent in qualitative research over the last twenty years. One such method is photovoice, an approach that actively involves participants in the research process, encouraging reflexivity in expressing thoughts, attitudes and experiences, first through images and then through narratives. Having the understanding of the participants` subjective experiences as the primary goal makes this technique a qualitative one, while the active participation of the participants gives it the character of a participatory research approach. This paper aims to present the basic principles and scope of application of the photovoice method in social research. First, we contextualize photovoice as a method of choice in socially engaged projects on the one hand and as a research approach whose primary goal is data collection in scientific research on the other hand. Then we brifely outline the historical development and areas of application of this visual method. The central part of the text is dedicated to describing the procedure for conducting the photovoice method, the types of data generated by its application, as well as the procedure for analyzing the collected data using this research technique. Photovoice can be adapted for various research objectives in wide areas of social life, as evidenced by a rich research practice. However, as with other research approaches, researchers should take into account the numerous challenges as well as the ethical dilemmas that may arise when this method is applied.