Images, Methodologies, and Generating Social Knowledge

In this first chapter of the visual research book the author is explaining how hard it can be to depict meaning in pictures due to the observers lenses. He continues by explaining how the images chosen for any given research project can misconstrued the actual data, by given the data a different meaning. Also the images chosen are going to be different from other researchers depending on what they are trying to find out and depict, in example pictures taken by a historian or anthropologist will be vastly different than those of a sociologist, because what each one is trying to research even though they might be taken in the same community. He then continues to give us guidelines of methods need to be used in order to find the best context for the research. There are three different methods: epistemology concerns, methodology, and theoteictcal or substantive contributions. In epistemology the main point is a theory of knowledge, when it comes to methods, validity, and scope of the research. In other words its the investigations of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion. Main issues is that qualitative research can molded by the portrayal by the use of certain images which is why some social researchers do not like the use of it. The author counters the misconception by explaining how we need to have a balance between numbers and our visual research, and having an understanding when a depiction will change the meaning. Methodology considers new ways in which researches can employ visual tools and techniques in field to generate rapport and gather data. It also varies from explicit use of documentation (a realist position) to a story telling approach (a narrative position) to a integrative technique (a reflective position). My research is using a bit of al three methods I am using documentation of what my participants are given me, with narration by me and using pictures as a source of story telling. Images and videos add a layer of data which a reader can then triangulate between statistical data, theoretical or conceptual argumentation. Visual research gives new insight that traditional methods can not give, it reaches beyond the evident by building rapport with participant s allowing them the platform to to open up.