Oldal 102 [102]
Part III. Digital Media and Storytelling in Research ] 101
Arts-based participatory action research is a gualitative research strategy
that is particularly suitable for enabling vulnerable respondents to articulate
unbiased information about themselves and conducting research on sensitive
topics (e.g. political conflict situations, financial background, gender,
national, or religious identity) while sharing a creative experience. Arts¬
based participatory action research methods differ from action research in
that the researcher not only actively participates and acts as an observer in
the group process, but also mentors the whole process through promoting
artistic creativity. Such research is based on the creative collaboration of the
participants and the facilitating presence of the researcher and provides added
value for the researcher, providing them with the possibility to analyze inter¬
process dialogues, body language and finished products, thus allowing for the
complex exploration of the research topic. The process has a transformative
effect on the participants, leading to direct psychological growth as well as
increased competence and personal development. Through artistic activities,
and repressed emotions and thoughts are brought to the surface through
dialogue. The whole process is highly reflective and collaborative, involving
both individual and group development and promoting cultural change
(Horvath & Oblath, 2015; cf. Lanszki, 2020).
In narrative-focused art-based participatory action research methods, the
researcher examines the process of narration, including the circumstances,
motivations, levels of storytelling and the product itself. Such methods include
Photo Voice, DST or Forum Theatre.
In the Photo Voice method, participants take photos of a relevant issue
which they then interpret. Through the images and the narratives attached
to them, participants present to each other hidden or overlooked phenomena
in mainstream society, which helps the group to identify social issues (Oblath
& Csosz6, 2017). The method reveals individual and shared experiences,
allowing participants to discuss the differences between their experiences
and analyze the stories through the images. The problems articulated in the
specific photo-narratives are then addressed by the group members as they
collectively try to propose solutions, potentially through the development
of action plans (Wang & Burris, 1997). The visual and verbal narratives can
also be published in online or offline exhibitions.
Photo Voice can be used as a tool for both research and pedagogy. A lecturer
in health sociology in South Africa conducted an action research study
using Photo Voice to explore inequalities in access to health services by
gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic background (specifically educational
background and living environment). Due to the nature of action research, the
researcher was part of both the pedagogical and research process. Freires (1972)
principles of critical consciousness, empowerment, and reflective knowledge
construction were used to conduct participatory photo-voice sessions. The
students (n = 334) took photographs related to the given topic and wrote texts
for them. While constructing the story, the students linked their narratives to