title: Practical guidance and ethical considerations for studies using photo-elicitation interviews.
abstract: Photo-elicitation is a qualitative interviewing technique that has gained popularity in recent years. It is the foundation for photovoice projects and is a tool well-suited for community-based participatory research. Photo-elicitation yields rich data, and interview participants say these interviews encourage community awareness and engagement. This article draws on 9 studies, conducted by researchers at 3 institutions (the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth) in partnership with community-based organizations and students, in which 303 participants completed photo-elicitation interviews. We offer 8 practical suggestions for overcoming challenges encountered during photo-elicitation research and for managing ethical concerns about the use of visual data in public health research. Our guidelines can inform study design, protocol development, and institutional review board approval.
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bugos
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, Center for Public Health Initiatives, and School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frasso
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: FitzGerald
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Gala
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: True
authors.affiliation: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, and Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Adachi-Mejia
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Anatomy Chemistry Building, Room 145, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: cannusci@wharton.upenn.edu. Dr Cannuscio is also affiliated with the Center for Public Health Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cannuscio
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010781:Photography; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*