A picture is worth... ? Photo elicitation interviewing with formerly homeless adults

Deborah K. Padgett; Bikki Tran Smith; Katie Sue Derejko; Benjamin F. Henwood; Emmy Tiderington

doi:10.1177/1049732313507752

A picture is worth... ? Photo elicitation interviewing with formerly homeless adults

Deborah K. Padgett, Bikki Tran Smith, Katie Sue Derejko, Benjamin F. Henwood, Emmy Tiderington

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We report on the use of photo elicitation interviewing (PEI) with 13 participants in a qualitative study of formerly homeless men and women with serious mental illness. Following a respondent-controlled approach, participants were asked to take up to 18 photographs visually portraying positive and negative aspects of their lives and to subsequently narrate the meaning of the photos in a one-on-one interview. Thematic analysis of the photos (N = 205) revealed two approaches to PEI: (a) a "slice of life" and (b) "then vs. now." Examples show how PEIs yielded deeper, more elaborate accounts of participants' lives compared to earlier verbal-only interviews. Participants spoke of the benefits of PEI and preferred taking positive as opposed to negative photographs depicting their lives. Implications of PEI as a means of complementing verbal-only data are discussed. By moving away from predetermined content and meaning, respondent-controlled PEIs enhance empowerment and enable creativity.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1435-1444
Number of pages	10
Journal	Qualitative Health Research
Volume	23
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732313507752
State	Published - Nov 2013

Keywords

homelessness
mental health and illness
photography / photovoice

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.1177/1049732313507752

Cite this

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abstract = "We report on the use of photo elicitation interviewing (PEI) with 13 participants in a qualitative study of formerly homeless men and women with serious mental illness. Following a respondent-controlled approach, participants were asked to take up to 18 photographs visually portraying positive and negative aspects of their lives and to subsequently narrate the meaning of the photos in a one-on-one interview. Thematic analysis of the photos (N = 205) revealed two approaches to PEI: (a) a {"}slice of life{"} and (b) {"}then vs. now.{"} Examples show how PEIs yielded deeper, more elaborate accounts of participants' lives compared to earlier verbal-only interviews. Participants spoke of the benefits of PEI and preferred taking positive as opposed to negative photographs depicting their lives. Implications of PEI as a means of complementing verbal-only data are discussed. By moving away from predetermined content and meaning, respondent-controlled PEIs enhance empowerment and enable creativity.",

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author = "Padgett, {Deborah K.} and Smith, {Bikki Tran} and Derejko, {Katie Sue} and Henwood, {Benjamin F.} and Emmy Tiderington",

note = "Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH084903).",

year = "2013",

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AU - Henwood, Benjamin F.

AU - Tiderington, Emmy

N1 - Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH084903).

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N2 - We report on the use of photo elicitation interviewing (PEI) with 13 participants in a qualitative study of formerly homeless men and women with serious mental illness. Following a respondent-controlled approach, participants were asked to take up to 18 photographs visually portraying positive and negative aspects of their lives and to subsequently narrate the meaning of the photos in a one-on-one interview. Thematic analysis of the photos (N = 205) revealed two approaches to PEI: (a) a "slice of life" and (b) "then vs. now." Examples show how PEIs yielded deeper, more elaborate accounts of participants' lives compared to earlier verbal-only interviews. Participants spoke of the benefits of PEI and preferred taking positive as opposed to negative photographs depicting their lives. Implications of PEI as a means of complementing verbal-only data are discussed. By moving away from predetermined content and meaning, respondent-controlled PEIs enhance empowerment and enable creativity.

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A picture is worth... ? Photo elicitation interviewing with formerly homeless adults

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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