Visual research incorporates images from a variety of visual
sources for instance from photographs, film, drawings and graffiti (Pyett 2003: 1170). Visual methods are essential in qualitative image-based research. It
is important to acknowledge the ethics when using image-based research. The
issue of validity and reliability which are two common research concepts used
in order to establish the truth behind conducted research have to be addressed
when making a case for image-based research. According to Cresswell (2000) both
of the concepts validity and reliability function together in order to increase
the researcher’s truthfulness of a proposition about some social phenomenon and
to eliminate bias (Golafshani 2003: 597).
The concept validity usually refers to the question whether the ethnographer has accurately stated what they have perceived from the photograph. In element it investigates whether the research has truly measured what it intended to measure (Prosser 1998: 28). With reference to the concept of reliability, it refers to the extent in which a given process is used to in order to gather data for the purposes of measurement that would tend to yield the same results if the study was replicated using similar methods (Simco 1997).
The level of validity and reliability in image-based research can be increased by using a large number of methods which will guarantee a multi-level interpretation of the topic in debate and multiple visual data. As society is not balanced and culture develops over time, likewise with ideologies, relationships and customs reliability will always remain a problem within qualitative research (Winston 1998: 66).
The concept validity usually refers to the question whether the ethnographer has accurately stated what they have perceived from the photograph. In element it investigates whether the research has truly measured what it intended to measure (Prosser 1998: 28). With reference to the concept of reliability, it refers to the extent in which a given process is used to in order to gather data for the purposes of measurement that would tend to yield the same results if the study was replicated using similar methods (Simco 1997).
The level of validity and reliability in image-based research can be increased by using a large number of methods which will guarantee a multi-level interpretation of the topic in debate and multiple visual data. As society is not balanced and culture develops over time, likewise with ideologies, relationships and customs reliability will always remain a problem within qualitative research (Winston 1998: 66).
References:
Pyett, P.M. (2003) ‘Validation of qualitative research in the “real world”.’ Qualitative Health Research 13,(8)1170-1179
Golafshani, N. (2003) ‘Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research.’ The Qualitative Report 8,(4)597-606
Prosser, J. (1998) Image-Based Research: A Sourcebook for Qualitative Researchers. London: RoutledgeFalmer
Simco, N., Warin, J. (1997) ‘Validity in image-based research: An elaborated Illustration of the issues.’ British Educational Research Journal 23,(5)661-672
Winston, B. (1998) “'The camera never lies.': The partiality of photographic evidence, image-based research: A sourcebook for qualitative researchers.” London: RoutledgeFalmer
A comment on journalism image as visual sociology
The media has become an influential economic force throughout the world.
The media has made journal images instantly readable and interpretable
(Prosser 1998). Journal image can be described as an image which traditionally
accompanies a story intended for magazine readers or for the newspaper (Harper 1998: 24).
According to Howard S. Becker “Photographs by their very nature are ambiguous” (Prosser 2008: 84). This issue, Becker explains, is further combined for a social scientist with a camera by a world that is replete with visual sociological purposes. Photographs captured by a visual sociologist, photojournalist a documentary photographer may be very alike however, the importance and legitimization of a specific photograph is not to be discovered in attaching a specific catch-all term to it, but instead in the response that it generates in those who actually perceive it (Prosser 2008).
Becker explains that photographs receive meaning from how people use them, understand them and therefore attribute meaning to them. These photographs are fundamental social constructions, in which point they are what they have come to mean (Prosser 2008).
Validity and reliability as journal images as visual sociology is an important aspect. Photography is used as a tool for communication, with regards to this, it is important to acknowledge that ideological prejudices may exist within the world of image-journalism that may not be driven by image-journalism. Becker exemplifies that a piece of journalism is usually driven by specific editorial preference and because of this may not illustrate the true nature of what is captured (Prosser 2008).
References:
According to Howard S. Becker “Photographs by their very nature are ambiguous” (Prosser 2008: 84). This issue, Becker explains, is further combined for a social scientist with a camera by a world that is replete with visual sociological purposes. Photographs captured by a visual sociologist, photojournalist a documentary photographer may be very alike however, the importance and legitimization of a specific photograph is not to be discovered in attaching a specific catch-all term to it, but instead in the response that it generates in those who actually perceive it (Prosser 2008).
Becker explains that photographs receive meaning from how people use them, understand them and therefore attribute meaning to them. These photographs are fundamental social constructions, in which point they are what they have come to mean (Prosser 2008).
Validity and reliability as journal images as visual sociology is an important aspect. Photography is used as a tool for communication, with regards to this, it is important to acknowledge that ideological prejudices may exist within the world of image-journalism that may not be driven by image-journalism. Becker exemplifies that a piece of journalism is usually driven by specific editorial preference and because of this may not illustrate the true nature of what is captured (Prosser 2008).
Prosser, J. (1998) Image-Based Research: A Sourcebook for Qualitative Researchers. London: RoutledgeFalmer
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