The visual keyhole into vulnerable communities: when pictures speak a thousand words

Melodena Stephens

Chapter 8 in Handbook for Qualitative Research in Emerging Markets, 2025, pp 93-114 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Visual methodologies are not commonly used; hence, it becomes challenging to understand what a robust visual methodology would look like. Visual methods refer to the use of visual data as part of empirical research, and are used as data sources or to provoke dialogue for sensemaking. The chapter captures learnings from my experiences with visual methodologies, focusing on the refugee setting. First, I describe the challenging context of researching vulnerable communities, and the value of using a visual methodology. Especially when interviews are associated with trauma or fuzzy decision-making processes, visuals provide a way to give research participants greater agency and recollection. Second, I highlight the current research on visual methodologies borrowing from different fields as there are not enough studies from business. Finally, a five-step process is presented for anyone who wishes to use visual methods in their research.

Keywords: Business and Management; Development Studies; Economics and Finance; Research Methods; Sociology and Social Policy; Sustainable Development Goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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