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Visual Research Methods: Image, Society, and Representation addresses the growing question in social research of how to critically incorporate visual data and visual methodologies in ways that expand and enhance the researcher's repertoire for understanding and teaching about the social world. Editor Gregory C. Stanczak crisscrosses disciplines in ways that highlight the multiple manifestations of this newer interdisciplinary trend. Beyond methodological interests, the rich diversity of subject matter provides this volume's pedagogical punch.

Key Features
  • Provides a valuable framework for classroom use and comparative analysis: Organized around three themes in visual research—methodology, epistemological reflection, and theoretical contribution of images
  • Addresses a wide range of topics: Original and reprinted works by leading qualitative researchers from various fields, including Sociology, Education, Political Science, Religion, History, and Gender Studies
  • Offers a roadmap to common issues and topics: Reader's guide connects different chapters to different conceptual themes and methodological approaches
  • Presents vivid visual data: Methodologies go beyond photography alone and include video and virtual research
Intended Audience: This is an excellent text for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in social research across disciplines such as Sociology, Education, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, American Studies, Communications, Gender Studies, and Political Science.Vi

Gregory C. Stanczak
Chapter 01: Introduction: Images, Methodologies, and Generating Social Knowledge
Jon Wagner
Chapter 02: Observing Culture and Social Life: Documentary Photography, Fieldwork, and Social Research
Barry Goldstein
Chapter 03: All Photos Lie: Images as Data
Jon Miller
Chapter 04: Capturing the Visual Traces of Historical Change: The Internet Mission Photography Archive
Steven J. Gold
Chapter 05: Using Photography in Studies of Immigrant Communities: Reflecting across Projects and Populations
Jeffrey Sammuels
Chapter 06: Breaking the Ethnographer’s Frames: Reflections on the Use of Photo-Elicitation in Understanding Sri Lankan Monastic Culture
Marisol Clark-Ibáñez
Chapter 07: Inner-City Children in Sharper Focus: Sociology of Childhood and Photo-elicitation Interviews
Erina Duganne
Chapter 08: The Failure of “The President’s Choice”
Emmanuel David
Chapter 09: Signs of Resistance: Marking Public Space through a Renewed Cultural Activism
Ruth Holliday
Chapter 10: Filming ‘The Closet’: The Role of Video Diaries in Researching Sexualities
Yolanda Hernandez-Albujar
Chapter 11: The Symbolism of Video: Exploring Migrant Mothers’ Experiences
Stephen Papson, Robert Goldman, Noah Kersey
Chapter 12: Website Design: Merging Hypertext Aesthetics, Academic Narratives, and Visual Sociology

Visual Research Methods provides a number of interesting approaches to consider when working with a diverse range of participants. The text is organised in an incredibly accessible and engaging manner that supports students to consider links between chapters and their own research designs. There are some particularly valuable suggestions about how visual methods will support research with children. The construct of social knowledge provides an interesting contextual foundation from which to apply visual methods.

Ms Lorraine Loveland-Armour
Department of Education, Newman University
February 20, 2017

This book is excellent in order to introduce master's students visual research method

Professor Gregorio Rodriguez
Education , University of Cadiz
November 24, 2016

Opens up an alternative methodological approach to research allowing studentsto consider new ideas in their research work

Mr Jason Wragg
Public Services, Weston College
February 11, 2016

a fantastic overview of visual research methods and their practical implementations during the research process. Chapters cover a variety of possibilities when using visual methods during research and also raise practical and theoretical considerations ad challenges that one should address while carrying this type of research

Mr Fergus Hogan
Department of Applied Arts, Waterford Institute of Technology
November 18, 2015

Critical analysis of visual methodology. Good examples for for practical fieldwork.

Mr Michael Klingler
Institute of Geography, University of Innsbruck
May 4, 2015

essential reading for all learners studying on our level 3 course for further reading

Mr Brendon Pettit
creative studies, Great Yarmouth College
March 30, 2015

The book is oriented on the methods of 'doing' research on images. It is less theoretically inclined than I had hoped for for my course on representing war in media and culture.

Dr Aleid Fokkema
Department of Media and Culture, Erasmus University Rotterdam
November 21, 2013

This is a useful collection and students will be reading selections from it as part of my course.

Dr Allison Hui
Department of Sociology, Lancaster University
October 18, 2013

Very interesting essays on photography and exploring the way people read and talk about photography. I think the images used are good an make the point well. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Performance and identity. I will be recommending my students read these essays to understand how to look at photography.

Ms Zoe Colburn
Arts, Leicester Adult Education College
April 26, 2013

An excellence source for photography students who are interested in how images can represent society in a number of different and meaningful ways. It was especially useful for those wanting to develop ideas around documentary photography.

Mr Ben Macloughlin
Art, Design and Graphics, City of Bath College
March 21, 2012
Key features
  • Each chapter is developed around a set of guiding questions covering at least three themes in visual research: methodology, epistemological reflection, and theoretical contribution of images. These themes provide a valuable framework for classroom use and comparative analysis by any visual researcher.
  • A substantive foundational chapter explicates these themes more fully and offers a mini introduction to core visual research methodology. 
  • Reader's guide connects different chapters to different conceptual themes and methodological approaches, offering a roadmap to common issues and topics with which the reader should become familiar.
  • Expanded list of suggested readings, arranged thematically within the general framework of the book (methodology, epistemology, and theory). 
  • Original and reprinted works by leading qualitative researchers across a wide range of fields, including Sociology, Education, Political Science, Religion, History, and Gender Studies.  

For instructors

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