Using video in a participatory, multi-method project on young people's everyday lives in rural East Germany: A critical reflection

Nadine Schaefer*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    Visual methods are increasingly used in participatory youth research, an approach which itself is becoming more and more popular in the social sciences (Rowe and Frewer, 2004). They are seen as a valuable tool to facilitate and acknowledge young people’s agency by engaging them more actively in the research process (Allen, 2008; Thomson, 2008; Morrow, 2001; Murray, 2009; Hillman et al., 2008). Youth researchers thus have started using a wide range of visually oriented and task-centered methods such as drawings and mental maps (Blades et al., 1998; Harden et al., 2000; Hörschelmann and Schäfer, 2005), photo- or video projects (Young and Barrett, 2001; McIntyre, 2003; Holliday, 2007), diary keeping (Punch, 2001; Latham, 2003), guided walks (Ross et al., 2009; Pink, 2007a), film-elicitation interviews (Murray, 2009) and particular forms of participatory methods like participatory diagramming (Kesby, 2000; Pain and Francis, 2003). The underlying assumption is that visual methods enable young people to express themselves more fully, allowing for aesthetic, emotional and intellectual responses which provide different insights into their everyday lives than those generated by more traditional methods (James et al., 1998; Morrow, 2001; Thomson, 2008; Murray, 2009). It is further argued that visual methods help to create a less intimidating atmosphere and lessen hierarchical relationships within the research context (Punch, 2001; Bagnoli, 2004).
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationInnovations in Youth Research
    PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
    Chapter8
    Pages143-160
    Number of pages18
    ISBN (Electronic)9780230355880
    ISBN (Print)9780230278493
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 15 Nov 2011

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Social Sciences

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