Abstract

The incorporation of participant-generated photography in research can be a powerful means of studying participants' perspectives and experiences. Approaches such as photovoice and photo-elicitation that incorporate participant-generated photography are increasingly being used in library and information science to study topics such as information needs, information seeking, and use of library space. This article describes two recent studies that used mobile apps (PixStori and EthOS) to facilitate participant-generated photography and photo-elicitation processes in research exploring the information practices of children and young adults, including the affordances, challenges and practical considerations identified by the researchers. Affordances of these apps within a research context include recordability, immediacy, portability, visibility, and durability. Challenges and practical considerations in using these apps in research settings include data security and storage, device failures, app failures, user instruction, cost, and ethical considerations. Implications for future research in library and information science are also explored.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2020

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Library & Information Science Research, v. 42, issue 3.

© 2020 Elsevier Inc.

© 2020. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

The document available for download is the authors' post-peer-review final draft of the article.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101033

Funding Information

Sarah Barriage's doctoral research was supported by a dissertation support grant from the Department of Library & Information Science at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Alison Hicks' doctoral research was supported by dissertation support grants from Charles Sturt University, Australia and the Swedish School of Library and Information Science, University of Borås, Sweden.

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