four note friday 1.19 | Photovoice and Ethical Considerations

Unexpected outcomes and events can be the most interesting parts of any project. And such unpredictable things are bound to happen. Some such things will be joyous and awe-inspiring. Other such things might give you or others connected to the project pause. All you can do is the best you can. That said, great care and attention must be given to ethical matters.

Like all research studies, photovoice projects require many ethical considerations. In what follows, I will outline some common refrains to keep in mind when engaging in this kind of work. This is far from a complete treatment of all ethical elements that may need thought through before, during, or after the project. Nonetheless, these are some important things to keep in mind.

▪️ Consent is not static; it is ongoing.

To be sure, consent to take part in the study is needed from all participants before data are collected. Yet participants' consent is not a one-and-done scenario. Whether they verbalize it or not, participants must say yes to participation in the study until they do not. Once consent is given and forms are signed, participants can withdraw consent at any point without any sort of penalty. And if that happens, the withdrawal must be honored.

Participants can withdraw consent to participate and consent for their data to be included as part of the study. When using film photography, I have experienced scenarios where a participant consented to some but not all photographs to be used within the study after seeing the prints. The participant simply did not like how some of the photographs came out, and that is completely okay.

▪️Provide participants with shareable information about the study.

Thinking about when, where, and how participants will take photographs is important when considering the social ramifications of photography. If there is a chance participants may be in a situation where questions are asked about why they are taking photographs, it is sometimes advisable to provide participants with an information sheet about the study they can share with other people.

Providing this information in the form of a handy one-pager can prevent the participant from feeling the burden of having to explain their actions. There is less of a chance for information to be lost in translation when clear information about the study can be distributed in a brief handout. Some participants might be happy to explain what they are doing to onlookers, yet providing this resource may allow other participants to feel more confident during photography.

▪️Be clear about photography parameters.

In most photovoice projects I have worked on, we have made it clear that nothing illegal should be photographed. Furthermore, questions about whether participants should take photographs of people—in non-identity concealing ways—should be addressed ahead of the start of any project. Photographs of people can be taken and used in photovoice studies, but additional layers of consent (and potential media release) are necessary.

It certainly is possible to include the photography of people in photovoice studies. Consent to be photographed and consent for those photographs to be showcased (and potentially published) are necessary to obtain, however, which can be complicated. Another level of complexity comes with considering creating images of persons 17 years of age and younger. Parental/Guardian consent is necessary in such cases. In my book, I provide templates to model these forms after.

▪️ Be clear about the potential ramifications of participants' identities not being conceal(able).

Depending on the design of the study, photovoice project participants' identities may not be concealable at all times. For example, if participants take photographs of items that belong to them, those items might be recognized by others. In addition, if participants co-present the results of the work or connect themselves with their photographs at an exhibition, their identities as participants will be known.

There is nothing innately problematic about this, but participants should be make aware of as many possibilities as conceivable. It may be helpful to discuss the potential ramifications of known participation. Are there ways participation could cause harm to the participant(s)—now or in the future? Might there be unpleasant consequences as a result of participation connected to specific social or cultural contexts or timelines? Encouraging participants to give serious consideration to these questions, and more, is necessary.

Because photovoice is such a unique methodological approach to research, the related ethical considerations are as complex as they are numerous. Careful thought and planning are necessary such that responsible decisions are made throughout the duration of the project.

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Warmly,
Mandy
photovoice field notes
photovoicefieldnotes.com