PHOTO INTERVIEWS WITH CHILDREN: RELATING THE VISUAL AND THE VERBAL FROM A PARTICIPATION PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The integration of visual prompts into qualitative interviews is regarded as a useful tool in attempting to give children the possibility of verbalizing memories and describing abstract issues. Furthermore, photo interviews are supposed to promote children's participatory research experiences. Less attention has been paid to how visual and verbal elements may be interrelated throughout the research process. Drawing on data from an Austrian empirical study with 50 children aged 10 years, the objective of this paper is to describe the combination of visual and verbal data in detail. Special emphasis is put on identifying factors that influence children's participation. The potential and limitations of photo interviews as a participative method of conducting research with children are elaborated. Although this approach does not per se decrease power differentials, enhance participation, or respect children's agency, it has a high potential to facilitate such action, if applied carefully, critically, and conscientiously.