 ‘Amusing and Fun’, ‘Arresting’, or ‘The Wrong Pictures’? Methodological Lessons from Using Photo-Elicitation in a Study of Academic RetirementGraham Crow Sociological Research Online, 2024, vol. 29, issue 1, 3-22 Abstract: This article reports on the use of photo-elicitation in a mixed methods study of academics’ later careers and retirement. Interviewees, who were either in their later career stage or retired from university work, were asked during the interviews to discuss the resonance that pre-selected images had with their understanding of retirement. Despite reluctance on some participants’ part to engage with the images, the majority took the opportunity to elaborate on themes of time, purpose, trajectories, hopes, and fears, rejecting images that they considered stereotypically negative. The argument is made that photo-elicitation’s pioneers have served subsequent users of the method well by being candid about its challenges as well as its potential and by encouraging creativity and flexibility in its application rather than presenting a set way to proceed. Because research does not always go according to plan, photo-elicitation’s potential for creative and flexible use recommends it to both novice and established practitioners, possibly as a complement to other methods in mixed methods projects. Keywords: academics; creativity; innovation; mixed methods; photo-elicitation; retirement (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socres:v:29:y:2024:i:1:p:3-22 DOI: 10.1177/13607804221133117 Access Statistics for this article More articles in Sociological Research Online |
Is your work missing from RePEc? Here is how to contribute.
Questions or problems? Check the EconPapers FAQ or send mail to .
EconPapers is hosted by the
School of Business at Örebro University.