Unsilencing Images in Qualitative Research:
Giving Voice to Photographs and Participants Through Two Hands-on Analysis Activities
Saturday, August 5th, 4:00 – 6:00
201 Hynes
A recent Academy of Management editorial (Langley et al., 2023) highlighted visual methods in management and organizational research, and this editorial complements many previous calls for more use of visual methods (Kunter & Bell, 2006; Meyer, 1991; Meyer et al., 2013; Ray & Smith, 2012; Warren, 2009). In this PDW, we focus on participant- and researcher-create photographs and two ways to analyze these images. Join us!
This PDW, sponsored by SAP, OMT and RM DIGS, responds to these calls by delving into photographic analysis in qualitative research. While we recognize that there are various ways to analyze photographs, we provide hands-on experiences with two processes. The first analysis approach -- participant-engaged photographic analysis (PEPA) (Cassell et al., 2020; De Molli, 2021) – will require PDW participants to create photographs, followed by discussion and preliminary analysis of patterns. The second analysis approach -- grounded visual pattern analysis (GVPA) (Shortt & Warren, 2019) – will engage participants in a coding exercise with a composite image set from a field study. After both exercises are completed, PDW participants will reflect and discuss how these techniques might be included in their research projects. During this debrief, organizers will reiterate key learning points and steps forward for incorporating photographs into qualitative studies. From these hands-on activities, participants will leave the session with hands-on insights that are difficult to extract from research articles or other methodological literature.
There is no registration required for this PDW, but the room will only hold 40 participants. Ben N.B. Alexander, Sara R. S. T. A. Elias, and Hans Hansen will be joining Ace Beorchia and Anne Smith (organizers) for this session. If you have questions, contact Anne Smith (asmith51@utk.edu).
REFERENCES
Cassell, C., Radcliffe, L., & Malik, F. (2020). Participant Reflexivity in Organizational Research Design. Organizational Research Methods, 23(4), 750–773.
De Molli, F. (2021). Participatory interpretation: a way to overcome analytical challenges in organizational aesthetic research. Culture & Organization, 27(3), 226–239.
Kunter, A., & Bell, E. (2006). The promise and potential of visual organizational research. M@n@gement, 9, 177-197
Langley, A., Bell, E., Bliese, P., LeBaron, C., & Gruber, M. (2023). Opening up AMJ's research methods repertoire. Academy of Management Journal, 66(3), 711–719.
Meyer, A. D. (1991). Visual data in organizational research. Organization Science, 2, 218-236.
Meyer, R. E., Höllerer, M. A., Jancsary, D., & van Leeuwen, T. (2013). The Visual Dimension in Organizing, Organization, and Organization Research: Core Ideas, Current Developments, and Promising Avenues. Academy of Management Annals, 7(1), 489–555
Ray, J. & Smith, A.D. (2012). Using photographs to research organizations: evidence, considerations, and application in a field study. Organizational Research Methods, 15(2), 288-315.
Shortt, H. L., & Warren, S. K. (2019). Grounded Visual Pattern Analysis: Photographs in Organizational Field Studies. Organizational Research Methods, 22(2), 539–563.
Warren, S. (2009). Visual methods in organizational research. In D. A. Buchanan & A. Bryman (Eds.), Handbook of Organizational Research Methods (pp. 566-582). London: Sage.
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Anne Smith
University of Tennessee
Knoxville TN
(865) 974-1670
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