A brief note o the comparison of the data gathering strategy of photovoice and archival research: for Housing Studies students

A brief note o the comparison of the data gathering strategy of photovoice and archival research: for Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "Briefly compare the data gathering strategies (e.g. recruitment of participants or raw data collection, sample size, etc.) of the research methods of (1) photovoice interview and (2) archival research in the context of a 4-month Housing Studies dissertation project."

The reply: "For a 4-month Housing Studies dissertation project, the data gathering strategies for photovoice interviews and archival research differ significantly in recruitment, data collection, and sample size.

Photovoice Interview:

• Recruitment often involves purposive or snowball sampling to recruit community participants who are willing to invest time (e.g., 5-10 hours over weeks) in participating, which may lead to self-selection bias favoring more community-involved individuals.

• Participants are trained on what and how to photograph aspects of their environment relevant to the research themes (e.g., housing or quality of life issues).

• Sample sizes tend to be small (e.g., around 10 participants) due to the depth of engagement, with participants producing photographic narratives.

• Data collection includes participants taking photos reflecting their lived experiences over a defined period, followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews discussing the photos, sometimes supplemented by focus groups or exhibitions for collective reflection and dissemination.

Archival Research:

• Archival research relies on locating, selecting, and retrieving existing documented materials relevant to the housing topic (government records, historical documents, policy papers, newspapers).

• No participant recruitment is required; instead, emphasis is on accessing relevant and credible archival sources.

• Sample size relates to the quantity and scope of documents analyzed, often dependent on time constraints and source availability.

• Data collection is document-based, involving systematic review, coding, and analysis of textual or visual materials from archives.

In summary, photovoice interviews involve active participant recruitment, small sample sizes, and primary data collection through participatory photography and interviews, suitable for capturing lived experiences within a short time frame. Archival research involves no participant involvement, uses pre-existing documentary data, and allows broader data coverage but limits immediacy of lived perspectives. Both methods can be complementary in a 4-month dissertation depending on research objectives."

My question 2: "Please provide 2 illustrative examples, one on the photovoice interview and the other one on the archival research, on our topic of discussion related to a Housing Studies dissertation project."

The reply: "Here are two illustrative examples related to a Housing Studies dissertation project:

Photovoice Interview Example:

A Photovoice study was conducted with older adults with lived experience of homelessness (OPEH) to explore their experiences of aging in supportive housing programs. Participants (about 11) took photographs representing aspects of their housing and community environments that affected their well-being and sense of place. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to discuss the photos, focusing on themes such as social connectivity, safety, and access to amenities. The project engaged participants as co-researchers and helped identify supportive housing features important to aging OPEH. It also empowered participants by increasing their engagement and community connectedness, producing both individual and policy-relevant outcomes in the housing context.

Archival Research Example:

An archival research study in Housing Studies might involve analyzing government housing policy documents, urban planning records, and historical housing market data to understand shifts in affordable housing availability over decades. The researcher would gather relevant documents from public archives, digitized databases, and libraries, focusing on policies impacting low-income housing supply and demand. Systematic coding and thematic analysis of these documents would reveal trends and policy impacts on housing access. This approach uses no participant recruitment but leverages rich historical data to contextualize contemporary housing challenges in a dissertation project.

These examples illustrate the distinct approaches: photovoice centers on participant-generated visual and narrative data, while archival research utilizes existing documentary evidence to explore housing-related issues."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.