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Section 4 Techniques and Tools

4.20 Photovoice

Photovoice provides cameras to community members to document their experience. This participatory approach enables people to record and reflect their community's strengths and problems. It can be used to promote dialogue about important issues through group discussion of the photographs and the visual material can be used as a way of engaging with policymakers and practitioners. Fuller information is available elsewhere.

Photovoice is based on the premise that what experts think is important may not match what people at the grassroots think is important. This can be useful for highlighting discrepancies in assumptions and for engaging with hard to reach groups.

This is a very flexible approach that can be adapted to specific purposes such as needs assessment, community mapping and service evaluation. It can be used with different groups and communities on a range of distinct issues relevant to public service delivery by social housing organisations.

The stages of Photovoice include:

• conceptualising the problem

• defining broader goals and objectives

• recruiting policy makers as the audience for Photovoice findings

• training the trainers

• conducting Photovoice training

• devising the initial theme/s for taking pictures

• taking pictures

• facilitating group discussion

• critical reflection and dialogue

• selecting photographs for discussion

• contextualising and storytelling

• codifying issues, themes, and theories

• documenting the stories

• reaching policy makers, media and others who may be mobilised to create change

Photovoice: checklist

√ Aim for maximum participation in decision making at every stage of the Photovoice process.

√ Be clear about expectations of what the process can achieve.

√ Be prepared to be challenged as an organisation.

√ Ensure that every effort is made to provide full opportunities for participation in the process for all sections of the community or group which is the focus of the research.

√ Don’t rush the process; ensure there is sufficient time and resources to ensure full and active engagement in the issues.

√ Recruit a facilitator or advisor to ensure the fullest participation and keep the process to the timetable.

√ Use visual methods in presentation of the conclusions and actively engage the participants in the dissemination process.

√ Involve participants in the development and monitoring of action plans based on Photovoice.

Alternative and related approaches

• Using stories

• Storydialogue

• Participatory appraisal

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