Abstract
This chapter describes a researcher’s reflections on the use of visual data-collection methods, including the Mmogo-method, in a study aimed at enabling a shared engagement and understanding of children’s experiences of hope. The study was framed by two important hope dimensions: it is relational (hope exists through human interaction), and it continually reproduces itself (hope builds hope). Visual participatory methodology encouraged the participants to become directly involved in the data-creation process, providing opportunities for multiple forms of expression, and accommodating the barriers of language and culture. The study consisted of four visual methods: drawing, collage-making, the Mmogo-method and photo-voice. The data source for this chapter is the researcher’s journal, which captured in great detail, both visually and textually (through photos, personal reflections and process notes), the participants’ engagement with the visual research methods, and the participatory process as a whole. The researcher’s reflections indicate that the application of the Mmogo-method enabled the children to construct their own subjective hope experiences, while also facilitating a platform for collaborative and collective meaning-making. This chapter contributes to the field of social research, particularly in rural settings, by demonstrating how observational reflections on process can contribute by adding relevant, contextual insight into the participants’ interactions during participatory social research.
In accordance with the ethics of participatory research, the issues of consent and anonymity were discussed with the participants on several occasions. As a condition of participating in the study, the board of St. Kizito Children’s Programme requested that the organization be recognized and accredited in all published work. Further, as creators of the research data, the children who participated in the study have requested that they too be identified and acknowledged in all published work showing their contributions, and have signed (with approval from their guardians) visual consent forms providing permission for these images to be published.
‘The Mmogo-method®’ is a registered South African trademark of the North-West University.
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Notes
- 1.
This chapter forms part of the author’s doctoral study entitled Research as hope-intervention: A visual participatory study with rural South African primary school children, which aimed to explore how using visual participatory methodology to explore hope with children could also strengthen their personal sense of hope (Cherrington, 2015).
- 2.
The Board of St. Kizito Children’s Programme has waived anonymity, and requested that the participation and collaboration of its staff members in this study be fully acknowledged in all publications and forms of dissemination.
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Acknowledgements
This work is based on research supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant UID number: 78783). I, as a student funded by a grant-linked bursary, acknowledge that opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication generated by the NRF-supported research are those of the author, and that the NRF accepts no liability whatsoever in this regard.
Much appreciation goes to Prof. Naydene de Lange, HIV & AIDS Education Research Chair, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, who supervized, supported and guided the research engagement as well as the writing of this chapter.
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Cherrington, A. (2016). Researcher’s Reflections on Using the Mmogo-method and Other Visual Research Methods. In: Roos, V. (eds) Understanding Relational and Group Experiences through the Mmogo-Method®. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31224-8_12
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