Visual Methods Of Inquiry

Visual research methods (VRM) comprise a collection of methods that incorporate visual elements such as maps, drawings, photographs, videos, as well as three-dimensional objects into the research process. In addition, VRM including photo-elicitation, photovoice, draw-and-write techniques, and cognitive mapping are being leveraged to great effect to explore information experiences to investigate some of the central questions in the field; expand theoretical discussions in LIS; and improve library services and spaces. Visual Research Methods: An Introduction for Library and Information Studies is the first book to focus on visual methods in LIS, providing a comprehensive primer for students, educators, researchers and practitioners in the field. Contributed chapters in the book showcase examples of VRM in action and offer the insights, inspirations, and experiences of researchers and practitioners working with visual methods. Coverage includes: - an introduction to visual research methods including a discussion of terminology - an overview of the literature on VRM in libraries - methodological framing including a discussion of theory, epistemology, - practical and ethical considerations for researchers embarking on VRM projects - chapters showcasing VRM in action including drawing techniques, photographic techniques, and mixed methods - six contributed chapters each showcasing the results of visual research methods, discussions of the techniques, and reflections on VRM for research in information studies. This book will provide a strong methodological context for the adoption of visual research methods in LIS and feature examples of VRM ‘in action.’ It will prove to be a must-have reference for researchers, practitioners, instructors, and students who want to engage with visual research methods and to expand their methodological toolkit.

Visual Methods of Inquiry: Images as Research presents qualitative researchers in the social sciences with the benefits, applications, and forms of visual research methods. It includes a wide variety of images to illustrate the many uses of visual methods for social research. Contemporary visual culture theory and practice offers wide-ranging opportunities for methodological advancement in the social sciences. This book covers the basics of image use in visual research methods and explores how these methods can be used effectively in social science research by surveying the conditions of visual forms, materials, and concepts, and the ways these represent and influence social conditions, phenomena, beliefs, and actions. It examines the roles and processes of interpretation in visual research and discusses ethical considerations that arise when using visual research methods. Students of social science and the visual arts will find this book useful in expanding and improving their methods of inquiry. Artists and researchers already familiar with visual methods will find that this book clarifies the ways the visual works in various research contexts and provides helpful language to describe and explain those methods.

There has been an explosion of interest in visual culture - coming largely from work in sociology, anthropology and cultural studies and while there are a number of practical and technical manuals available for film, photographic and other visual media, there is a dearth of writing that combines both the practical and the technical. This book redresses this with a balanced approach that is written primarily for students in the social sciences who wish to use visual materials in the course of empirical, qualitative field research. It should also be of interest to experienced researchers who wish to expand their methodological approaches.

Visual research methods are quickly becoming key topics of interest and are now widely recognised as having the potential to evoke emphatic understanding of the ways in which other people experience their worlds. Visual, Narrative and Creative Research Methods examines the practices and value of these visual approaches as a qualitative tool in the field of social science and related disciplines. This book is concerned with the process of applying visual methods as a tool of inquiry from design, to production, to analysis and dissemination. Drawing on research projects which reflect real world situations, you will be methodically guided through the research process in detail, enabling you to examine and understand the practices and value of visual, narrative and creative approaches as effective qualitative tools. Key topics include: techniques of data production, including collage, mapping, drawing and photographs; the practicalities of application; the positioning of the researcher; interpretation of visual data; images and narratives in public spaces; evaluative analysis of creative approaches. Visual, Narrative and Creative Research Methods will be an invaluable companion for researchers, postgraduate students and other academics with an interest in visual and creative methods and qualitative research.

This collection presents stories from the field that were gathered from researchers using a breadth of visual methods. Visual methods refer to the use of still or moving images either as forms of data, to explore research topics and explorations of artistic practice. In addition to well-established visual methods, such as photo-voice and photo-elicitation, the possibilities for visual methods are flourishing through the proliferation of visual culture and developments in digital technologies. Methodological and ethical issues are emerging as visual methods are adapted and applied to answer new kinds of research questions, and in varied settings and populations. Authors offer practical and thoughtful discussions of emerging methodological and ethical dilemmas they encountered in innovative projects that used visual methods either in combination with other methods or as a stand-alone method. The discussions will be of interest to those seeking to understand the value, and potential ethical risks, of visual methodologies for social research.

This book offers a distinctive approach to the use of visual methodologies for qualitative architectural research. It presents a diverse selection of ways for the architect or architectural researcher to use their gaze as part of their research practice for the purpose of visual literacy. Its contributors explore and use 'critical visualizations', which employ observation and sociocultural critique through visual creations - texts, drawings, diagrams, paintings, visual texts, photography, film and their hybrid forms - in order to research architecture, landscape design and interior architecture. The visual methods intersect with those used in ethnography, anthropology, visual culture and media studies. In presenting a range of interdisciplinary approaches, Visual Methodologies in Architectural Research opens up territory for new forms of visual architectural scholarship

This collection presents stories from the field that were gathered from researchers using a breadth of visual methods. Visual methods refer to the use of still or moving images either as forms of data, to explore research topics and explorations of artistic practice. In addition to well-established visual methods, such as photo-voice and photo-elicitation, the possibilities for visual methods are flourishing through the proliferation of visual culture and developments in digital technologies. Methodological and ethical issues are emerging as visual methods are adapted and applied to answer new kinds of research questions, and in varied settings and populations. Authors offer practical and thoughtful discussions of emerging methodological and ethical dilemmas they encountered in innovative projects that used visual methods either in combination with other methods or as a stand-alone method. The discussions will be of interest to those seeking to understand the value, and potential ethical risks, of visual methodologies for social research.

In today's digital age, visual representation plays a significant role in shaping our world. This book explores the topic of visual research methods and their relevance to education. It highlights the use of visual media, such as images and videos, to enhance our understanding of complex concepts and phenomena. By integrating visual research into education, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of abstract ideas, leading to better retention and application of knowledge. Additionally, visual research methods provide multiple perspectives on social phenomena, motivating us to initiate social change. The book features contributions from scholars worldwide, who discuss various methodological perspectives and applications of visual research in education. Topics include visual inquiry methodology, techniques for analyzing visual data, and the use of photovoice. Each chapter reviews the literature on a specific visual method, addresses methodological challenges, strengths, and limitations, and explores its contributions to education research. Overall, this book offers valuable insights into the power and potential of visual research methods in education, providing a platform for scholars to share their expertise and promote the use of visual methods in educational research. Contributors are: Hendrik-Zoltan Andermann, Chang Cai, Yanli Cao, Helen Hanna, Qing Huang, Wei Jin, Guanyu Li, Ning Luo, Patrica A. L. Ong, Miao Pei, Hing Kwant To, Kwok Kuen Tsang, Ting Wang, Zeyu Wang, Ziaoyu Wang, E. Jayne White, Rui Xiong, Boris Zizek and Zhaolin Zhou.