“Beyond words”: a researcher’s guide to using photo elicitation in psychology

ABSTRACT

The use of photo elicitation is limited within the field of psychology despite its theoretical and practical potential. It offers significant benefits as a qualitative method that could present a new and interesting way of exploring previously understood topics within the discipline. Within our discussion, we present a step-by-step guide outlining the key practical stages and ethical assurances involved in photo elicitation research, using our ongoing research as an illustrative example. It is intended that this could be used as a model of good practice for developing research paradigms beyond those typically used within the psychology discipline.

KEYWORDS:

• Interviews
• photo elicitation
• psychology
• qualitative

Notes

^1. The discussion here is focused on individual interviews but the advice and guidelines could be applied to group interviews or focus groups. Additional considerations should be noted around confidentiality and levels of anonymity but it could still be utilised effectively.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth A. Bates

Dr. Elizabeth A. Bates is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology at the University of Cumbria. Key areas of interest include intimate partner violence and specifically male victims but she also has a keen interest in pedagogic research. Specifically, she is interested in student satisfaction, employability and transition within Higher Education.

Joseph J. McCann

Joseph J. McCann is a PhD Candidate at the University of Cumbria. His doctoral research involves the development and implementation of a pedagogical action research model to ease the transition to university from A-level, in terms of critical thinking skills and dispositions. In addition to this, he has a keen interest in student satisfaction, effective teaching practices, widening participation and the gamification of learning.

Linda K. Kaye

Dr. Linda K. Kaye is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Edge Hill University. Her research is in the area of cyberpsychology, but she also researches higher education pedagogy. Her recent projects have broadly explored students’ expectations and experiences of Higher Education.

Julie C. Taylor

Dr. Julie C. Taylor is a Principal Lecturer responsible for Psychology and allied subjects at the University of Cumbria. One of the recurrent themes of her research and practice over the last 20 years has been meaningful stakeholder engagement and seeking to use research and evaluation methods that facilitate this. Her current research projects include student engagement in the development of assessment processes, asset based approaches to inclusive lesson design in secondary schools, and developing a sustainable approach to successful smoking cessation in prisons.