Advancing Image-Elicitation Methods in the Social Sciences

“图像启发”指的是研究人员和他们的研究参与者进行半结构化访谈时，以图像为中心的一系列方法。这些图像--可以是图纸、地图或图表，但最常见的是照片--是被采访者在与研究主题相关的采访之前创作的。然后在面试中讨论这些问题。这些图像也可以在出版物和展览中使用，作为展示参与者世界观的一种方式。因此，图像启发方法(IEM)经常被描述为“参与式”方法，因为它们允许受访者在创造研究成果方面发挥特别积极的作用。这种方法现在非常流行，不仅在社会科学研究人员中，还有许多其他组织也在使用它们。例如，社区艺术从业者使用它们来探索可能受到影响的当地社区的城市重建项目的建议(Bishop 2012)；科技公司用来衡量公众对新技术的反应；以及卫生权威机构用来评估当地的公共卫生战略(Dennis等人，2009)。然而，尽管它们被广泛使用，但这种方法并没有像半结构化访谈那样发展出更广泛的、批判性的评论，或者更广泛地参与研究。这些方法也没有在很大程度上利用数字技术(实际上，依赖于照片启发访谈的研究项目肯定是一次性相机仅存的市场之一)。这三个模块旨在通过深入讨论三件事来促进图像启发方法：1.与弱势群体合作的伦理；2.当前参与式方法在广泛背景下的流行；3.在数字视觉文化背景下IEM的未来。这些问题中的每一个都将通过在线模块进行讨论。这些讨论的在线交付将允许与相关文献和辩论的深入接触；它将允许模块学生分享他们自己的工作；它将允许他们与其他人合作讨论他们自己的工作和来自其他地方的示范项目；它将为学生提供一个机会来探索数字技术的潜力，以进一步开发图像启发研究方法。在线授课还将确保这些模块尽可能广泛地接触到这些模块。

'Image-elicitation' refers to a range of methods in which images are the focus of a semi-structured interview between the researcher and their research participant. The images - which can be drawings, maps or diagrams but are most often photographs - are created by the interviewee before the interview in relation to the topic being researched. They are then discussed during the interview. The images can also be used in publications and exhibitions as a way of showing the participant's worldview. Image-elicitation methods (IEMs) are thus often described as 'participatory' methods, because they allow the interviewee to have a particularly active role in creating the research findings.Such methods are now very popular, and not only among social science researchers; a range of other organisations also use them. They are used, for example, by community arts practitioners to explore proposals for urban regeneration projects with the local communities likely to be affected (Bishop 2012); by tech companies to gauge public reaction to new technologies; and by health authorties to evaluate local public health strategies (Dennis et al 2009).However, despite their widespread use, the method has not developed a wider, critical commentary in the same way that, say, semi-structured interviews on their own have, or participatory research more generally. Nor have these methods utilised digital technologies to any great degree (indeed, research projects relying on photo-elicitation interviews must be one of the last remaining markets for disposable cameras).These three modules aim to advance image-elicitation methods by offering an in-depth discussion of three things:1. the ethics of working with vulnerable groups; 2. the current popularity of participatory methods in a wide range of contexts; 3. and the future of IEMs in the context of digital visual culture.Each of these issues will be discussed via an online module.The online delivery of these discussions will allow an in-depth engagement with relevant literatures and debates; it will allow module students to share their own work; it will allow them to collaborate with others in discussing both their own work and exemplar projects from elsewhere; and it will provide an opportunity for students to explore the potential of digital technologies for further developing image-elicitation research methods.Online delivery will also ensure the accessibility of these modules to the widest possibly constituency.