Using Photovoice to Address Qualitative Research Methodology Competencies of Public Health Students: A Pilot Study

Photovoice projects have been conducted with various cultures and population groups to explore a range of factors relating to health and social inquiry. As a visual approach, Photovoice helps us see the world as people experiencing it do. We can view another person’s lived experience through Photovoice rather than our own. In public health, it is frequently employed as a research methodology to examine the lives of marginalized groups, including trauma survivors, homeless adolescents, and many others. This pilot project aims to provide Master’s-level public health qualitative research course students with hands-on experience using Photovoice as a qualitative methods approach. Three key lessons are drawn through the design and implementation of the Photovoice assignment. The first is using Photovoice to enhance learning and engagement in qualitative research methods. Second, Photovoice as a data collection tool can be challenging due to participants' knowledge. Third, a detailed grading rubric for grading and application consistency is needed. This pilot project suggests that Photovoice is appropriate for facilitating public health qualitative research skills among graduate students and provides recommendations for future faculty to strengthen qualitative research course design.