Photography as a Social Research Method

Sten Langmann completed his PhD at Curtin University in Western Australia in 2014. His main research focus is on knowledge sharing for development and how development organisations which are engaged in knowledge clusters can help people to build capacities. Further research interests include the use of photography as useful and viable data collection method. In addition, Sten also has undertaken research into developing a new approach to training evaluation in HRM.     David Pick is an Associate Professor in the School of Management at Curtin University. Since gaining his PhD in 2003, he has published research in social policy in a variety of contexts including the North West of Australia, Bhutan and Myanmar. In addition to an interest in visual research methods, he has also undertaken research into the use of fictional narratives in understanding organizations.

• Chapter 1: Foundations.- 1.1: The role of research photography within visual research methods.- 1.2: Different application and benefits of photo research.- 1.3: Photographs as a foundation and a serious data source for social research.- Chapter 2:Field Preparations.- 2.1: Lenses and their Function.- 2.2: Foundations of Photography.- 2.3: Photo perspectives and their different uses.- 2.4: RAW is the new JPG.- Chapter 3: Ethical Considerations in Research Photography.- 3.1: Current ethical considerations in research photography.- 3.2: Dignity in photo research.- 3.3: Verstaendnis, perceived realities, and power.- Chapter 4: In the Field.- 4.1: Equipment usage in the field.- 4.2: Translating research ethics into practical ethics in field work.- 4.3: Achieving dignity and Verstaendnis in field work to bridge power relations.- 4.4: Generating authentic data.- Chapter 5: Data Analysis.- 5.1: Photos as ‘data’.- 5.2: Deconstructing images from basics to specifics.- 5.3: Introduction to QSR NVivo – basic coding and theming functions.- 5.4: Photo coding and creation of themes in NVIVO.- Chapter 6: Presentation and Publication.- 6.1: Retouching and presentation foundations.- 6.2: Colour and black and white presentation of images.- 6.3: Legalities in the publication of images.- 6.4: Choosing an appropriate journal.