Photo-Based Evaluation: A Method for Participatory Evaluation With Adolescents

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Authors: Deinera Exner-Cortens, Kathleen C. Sitter, Marisa Van Bavel, Alysia Wright

Publication Year: 2021

Last Updated: February 5, 2021

Journal: American Journal of Evaluation

Keywords: Awareness; Development; Gender Identity; Information Technologies; Social Determinants of Health; Health Promotion; Youth; Evaluation; Engagement; Gender; Healthy Relationships; WiseGuyz

 

Short Abstract: Actively engaging adolescents in meaningful program evaluation is a topic of growing interest. One possibility for such engagement is the use of photographs as part of visual evaluation, so that youth can directly engage with the research process. In this Method Note, we describe the development and implementation of a participatory, photo-based evaluation method for youth health promotion/prevention programs.

 

Abstract: Actively engaging adolescents in meaningful program evaluation is a topic of growing interest. One possibility for such engagement is the use of photographs as part of visual evaluation, so that youth can directly engage with the research process. In this Method Note, we describe the development and implementation of a participatory, photo-based evaluation method for youth health promotion/prevention programs. Youth in this study were participants in a gender-transformative healthy relationships program for boys. We present literature supporting the use of photographs as a visual research method and for involving youth as active participants in evaluation, and explore the feasibility, utility, and acceptability of this innovative application of existing methods based on researcher experience and youth feedback. We conclude with implications for photo-based evaluation of health promotion/prevention programs, highlighting the promise of this method for promoting critical youth engagement in the evaluation and creating meaningful knowledge translation tools. Photo-based evaluation could be a useful methodology for engaging AI/AN youth in research. More active engagement in the research process as well as having more control over the information the individual shares may help to alleviate some of the risks that are associated with being involved in research studies for AI/AN communities. Previous research mentioned in the article showed positive results when photo-voice was used with urban First Nations youth. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24694193.2016.1273977).

 

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Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098214020927785

Type of Resource: Peer-reviewed scientific article