ABSTRACT
The chapter explores how researchers employ images, videos, and creative artifacts as both data and means of inquiry. The abstract notes that these approaches broaden qualitative inquiry by tapping into sensory, symbolic, and creative dimensions of social life that words alone may miss. The chapter begins with theoretical foundations around the epistemology of seeing and making: interpreting visuals (“seeing”) and creating art (“making”) are presented as fundamental ways of knowing. Visual perception can convey complex cultural meanings and evoke emotions instantaneously, allowing insights into tacit knowledge or cross-cultural understanding (e.g., a photograph capturing power dynamics or a drawing expressing emotions). Meanwhile, the process of making art is depicted as a form of knowledge co-construction – participants externalize inner experiences through creation, which researchers and participants then collaboratively interpret. The chapter discusses how these methods align with participatory and empowerment paradigms, often giving voice to marginalized groups through creative expression. Practical and ethical considerations of working with visual data are addressed, such as obtaining consent for using images, ensuring anonymity, and developing visual literacy to interpret images in context. In sum, the abstract underscores that visual and arts-based methods enrich qualitative research by engaging multiple senses and forms of expression.
