Approaches to Visual Data Analysis Using an Empowerment Lens

This workshop uses examples from two studies with vulnerable populations: women living in poverty in Mexico and older adults with brain injury in the US to explore and gain practical experience with involving participants in visual data analysis. Photovoice and photo interviews engage people with limited power in their communities in contributing their knowledge to wider community conversations. The research process activates mind and voice as participants and researchers reflect on a topic of interest, express lived experience through photos and interviews (or group discussions), participate in visual analysis, and take action individually or in collaboration with nonprofit organizations. The photographs become spaces for reflective thought, discussion, and action in the research endeavor—and an opportunity for participants to share their expertise. We will briefly review participatory visual methods (photovoice and photo interview), before focusing on several photographs and related text from each study to reflect on individual and organizational empowerment in both contexts. Participants will work together to identify themes in groups of photos and text provided, and gain practice using arts-based methods to identify salient topics for discussion and thematic analysis. Participants will leave this workshop with practical ideas for (1) engaging research participants as partners in the research endeavor and (2) employing a theoretical framework to understand participants’ data (photos) and contextualizing (text) in a broader context. The workshop will close with review and discussion of best practices for participatory visual research analysis approaches that activate heart and mind, empower participants as partners in research, and support mutual learning among participants and researchers alike