Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T18:02:32.862Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Using photovoice with older adults: some methodological strengths and issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2011

SHEILA NOVEK ,
TONI MORRIS-OSWALD  and
VERENA MENEC
SHEILA NOVEK
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
TONI MORRIS-OSWALD
Affiliation:
Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
VERENA MENEC*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
*
Address for correspondence: Verena Menec, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, S113 Medical Services Building, 750 Bannatyne Ave, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada. E-mail: menec@cc.umanitoba.ca
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Photovoice is a qualitative research technique in which participants record and reflect on their community through photography. The technique is gaining popularity as a participatory research methodology. Few studies, however, have described the use of photovoice with older adults. This paper examines the application of photovoice in a qualitative, participatory research study examining age-friendly community characteristics in four communities in Manitoba, Canada. Thirty older adults were provided with cameras and took photographs to illustrate how age-friendly their communities are and participated in group discussions to identify priorities in becoming more age-friendly. The research process and results were analysed in order to assess the application of the methodology with older adults. Photovoice is an effective tool for eliciting older persons’ perceptions of their communities, giving voice to the unique concerns of older adults, and identifying strategies for change. If adapted to accommodate the needs of seniors, this methodology provides an innovative approach to community-based gerontological research. On the other hand, there are a number of challenges to be overcome if photovoice is to be a truly effective research instrument, including recruitment, photography training, retrieving consent forms, and issues of time and distance.

Keywords

photovoiceolder adultsparticipatory researchqualitative methods
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 32 , Issue 3 , April 2012 , pp. 451 - 470
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baker, T. and Wang, C. C. 2006. Photovoice: use of a participatory action research method to explore the chronic pain experience in older adults. Qualitative Health Research, 16, 10, 1405–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blair, T. and Minkler, M. 2009. Participatory action research with older adults: key principals in practice. The Gerontologist, 49, 5, 651–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Booth, T. and Booth, W. 2003. In the frame: photovoice and mothers with learning difficulties. Disability and Society, 18, 4, 431–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castleden, H., Garvin, T. and Huu-ay-aht First Nation 2008. Modifying photovoice for community-based participatory Indigenous research. Social Science and Medicine, 66, 6, 1393–1405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Catalani, C. and Minkler, M. 2010. Photovoice: a review of the literature in health and public health. Health Education & Behavior, 37, 3, 424–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dempsey, J. and Tucker, S. 1994. Using Photo-interviewing as Tool for Research and Evaluation. US Department of Education. Available online at http://www.end.ed.gov./ERICWebportal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp? [Accessed 14 March 2008].Google Scholar
Downey, L., Ireson, C. and Scutchfield, F. 2009. The use of photovoice as a method of facilitating deliberation. Health Promotion Practice, 10, 3, 419–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fitzpatrick, A. L., Steinman, L. E., Tu, S.-P., Ly, K. A., Ton, T. G. N., Yip, M.-P. and Sin, M.-K. 2009. Communicating with pictures: perceptions of cardiovascular health among Asian immigrants. American Journal of Public Health, 99, 12, 2147–49.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hergenrather, K. C., Rhodes, S. D., Cowan, C. A. and Bardhoshi, G. 2009. Photovoice as community-based participatory research: a qualitative review. American Journal of Health Behavior, 33, 6, 686–98.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Israel, B., Schulz, A., Parker, E. and Becker, A. 2001. Community-based participatory research: policy recommendations for promoting a partnership approach in health research. Education for Health, 14, 2, 182–97.Google ScholarPubMed
Jurkowski, J. and Paul-Ward, A. 2007. Photovoice with vulnerable populations: addressing disparities in health promotion among people with intellectual disabilities. Health Promotion Practice, 8, 4, 358–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Killion, C. M. and Wang, C. C. 2000. Linking African American mothers across life stage and station through photovoice. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 11, 3, 310–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kramer, L., Schwartz, P., Cheadle, A., Borton, J. E., Wright, M., Chase, C. and Lindley, C. 2010. Promoting policy and environmental change using photovoice in the Kaiser Permanente community health initiative. Health Promotion Practice, 11, 3, 332–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lockett, D., Willis, A. and Edwards, N. 2005. Through seniors’ eyes: an exploratory qualitative study to identify environmental barriers to and facilitators of walking. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 37, 3, 48–65.Google ScholarPubMed
Matthews, A. M. and Vanden Heuvel, A. 1986. Conceptual and methodological issues in research on aging in rural versus urban environments. Canadian Journal on Aging, 5, 1, 49–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minkler, M., Blackwell, A. G., Thompson, M. and Tamir, H. 2003. Community-based participatory research: implications for public health funding. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 8, 1210–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newman, S. D. 2010. Evidence-based advocacy: using photovoice to identify barriers and facilitators to community participation after spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation Nursing, 35, 2, 47–59.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Poudrier, J. and Mac-Lean, R. T. 2009. ‘We've fallen into the cracks’: Aboriginal women's experiences with breast cancer through photovoice. Nursing Inquiry, 16, 4, 306–17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Racher, F. 2007. Photovoice and community assessment: taking action on the determinants of health. Presentation, Alberta Public Health Summer School, 8 August.Google Scholar
Racher, F., Kaufert, J. and Havens, B. 2000. Conjoint research interviews with frail, elderly couples: methodological implications. Journal of Family Nursing, 6, 4, 367–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwartz, L. R., Sable, M. R., Dannerbeck, A. and Campbell, J. D. 2007. Using photovoice to improve family planning services for immigrant Hispanics. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 18, 4, 757–66.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sims-Gould, J., Clarke, L. H., Ashe, M. C., Naslund, J. and Liu-Ambrose, T. 2010. Renewal, strength and commitment to self and others: older women's reflections of the benefits of exercise using Photovoice. Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, 2, 2, 250–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Streng, J., Rhodes, S., Ayala, G., Eng, E., Arceo, R. and Phipps, S. 2004. Realidad Latina: Latino adolescents, their school, and a university use photovoice to examine and address the influence of immigration. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 18, 4, 403–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, C. C. and Burris, M. 1997. Photovoice: concept, methodology, and use for participatory needs assessment. Health Education and Behavior, 24, 3, 369–87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, C. C., Cash, J. and Powers, L. 2000. Who knows the streets as well as the homeless? Promoting personal and community action through photovoice. Health Promotion Practice, 1, 1, 81–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, C. C., Morrel-Samuels, S., Hutchison, P., Bell, L. and Pestronk, R. M. 2004. Flint photovoice: community building among youths, adults, and policymakers. American Journal of Public Health, 94, 6, 911–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, C. C. and Pies, C. 2004. Family, maternal, and child health through photovoice. Maternal and Child Journal, 8, 2, 95–102.Google ScholarPubMed
Wang, C. C. and Redwood-Jones, Y. A. 2001. Photovoice ethics: perspectives from Flint photovoice. Health Education and Behavior, 28, 5, 560–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, C. C., Yi, W. K., Tao, Z. W. and Carovano, K. 1998. Photovoice as a participatory health promotion strategy. Health Promotion International, 13, 1, 75–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkin, A. and Liamputtong, P. 2010. The photovoice method: researching the experiences of Aboriginal health workers through photographs. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 16, 3, 231–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization (WHO) 2007. Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide. Electronic version, WHO Press, Geneva. Available online at http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf [Accessed 14 February 2011].Google Scholar