Photo Elicitation Interview (PEI): Using Photos to Elicit Children's Perspectives

TLDR

Photo elicitation interviews (PEI) involve using photographs during interviews and have been applied across many disciplines, yet their use with children has received limited attention. This article reviews the application of PEI in a study of children with cancer attending camp to understand their perspectives. The review examines methodological and ethical issues such as who should take the photographs and how they should be incorporated into the interview. PEI can challenge participants, evoke memories, generate new insights, and foster trust and rapport, despite some limitations.

Abstract

When conducting photo elicitation interviews (PEI), researchers introduce photographs into the interview context. Although PEI has been employed across a wide variety of disciplines and participants, little has been written about the use of photographs in interviews with children. In this article, the authors review the use of PEI in a research study that explored the perspectives on camp of children with cancer. In particular, they review some of the methodological and ethical challenges, including (a) who should take the photographs and (b) how the photographs should be integrated into the interview. Although some limitations exist, PEI in its various forms can challenge participants, trigger memory, lead to new perspectives, and assist with building trust and rapport.