Cultivating reflexive research practice when using participants’ photographs as research data

This chapter reflects on a study exploring the development of a feminist consciousness. During the interviews participants were invited to share photographs that were significant to their feminist becoming. Various ethical and methodological challenges arose through the use of visual data, in particular the ethics of the interpretation and dissemination of participants’ personal photographs. Both issues were highlighted and addressed through reflexive research practice, which exposed how the researcher’s reaction to and feelings about the photographs impacted upon how they were interpreted and shared. Reflexivity demands that researchers interrogate their research choices and is essential for ethical and rigorous research. This chapter argues that visual methods, whilst posing new ethical challenges, can enhance the reflexive research practice necessary for responding to and navigating its challenges.

Please acknowledge as follows:
Guest C. (2016) Cultivating Reflexive Research Practice When Using Participants’ Photographs as Research Data. In: Warr D., Guillemin M., Cox S., Waycott J. (eds) Ethics and Visual Research Methods. Palgrave Macmillan, New York reproduced with permission of Palgrave Macmillan.
This extract is taken from the author's original manuscript and has not been edited. The definitive, published, version of record is available here: https://www.palgrave.com/gb/book/9781137548542 and https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54305-9_6