The Affordances and Challenges to Incorporating Visual Methods in Mixed Methods Research

Authors

Peggy Shannon-Baker, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Cherie Edwards, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-27-2018

Publication Title

American Behavioral Scientist

DOI

10.1177/0002764218772671

ISSN

1552-3381

Abstract

Mixed methods researchers are increasingly utilizing visual methods, including portraiture, symbolic drawing, and photo-elicitation. Such methods have been used to capture that which is not observable, communicate experiences that are difficult to verbalize, and promote participants’ self-awareness. Challenges to this approach, however, include limited grounding in the literature, appropriate training, and ethical concerns. After establishing a typology for visual methods, we discuss these affordances and challenges to using this approach in mixed methods studies. We analyze three example studies that utilize different visual approaches to identify their unique and important contributions. We conclude with several key considerations for researchers.

Comments

Copyright and Open Access: https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/195

Recommended Citation

Shannon-Baker, Peggy, Cherie Edwards. 2018. "The Affordances and Challenges to Incorporating Visual Methods in Mixed Methods Research." American Behavioral Scientist, 62 (7): 935-955: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/0002764218772671 source: 10.1177/0002764218772671
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/curriculum-facpubs/151