A visual method in use for investigating housing (in)security
Author:
Dobrusskin, Janina; Genz, Carolin
Citation:
Dobrusskin, J.; Genz, C. (2025): Photo-Elicitation. A visual method in use for investigating housing (in)security. In: VisQual-Methodbox. https://visqual.leibniz-ifl-projekte.de/methodbox/2025/07/16/photo-elicitation/
Essentials
- Access to emotional and embodied spatial knowledge
- Stimulation of narrative depth through visual stimuli
- Reflective and participatory research approach
- Methodically structured, flexible application
- Sensitization for ethical and contextual aspects
Description
The photo elicitation method uses photographs as visual stimuli during interviews. The visual nature of the photos used aims to promote affective references in the interviewees, bringing subjective spatial experiences connected with sensory impressions and emotions to the forefront. The method seeks to gather information that cannot be obtained through words alone (Harper 2002; Richard and Lahman 2015; Dobrusskin et al. 2024). This makes the method particularly suitable for investigating questions interested in subjectively embodied knowledge and emotional dimensions of space and place.
John Collier pioneered the method, using the term photo-interviewing (Collier and Collier 1986; Harper 2002). In his anthropological study of the acculturation of French-Acadians in Bristol, Collier conducted interviews with and without photographs. He also tested different variations concerning the photographs’ context of origin to guide the interviews visually (Collier 1957). He concluded that interviews involving photos led to information that is more precise and reduced misunderstandings compared to those without photos.
Building on Collier’s work, Douglas Harper conducted research in visual sociology and coined the term “photo-elicitation” (Harper 1986). He proposed that photo-elicitation should be understood as a dialogue based not on the authority of the researcher, but that of the subject (Harper 2002, 15). According to Harper (2002, 23), using photos adds validity and reliability to a study and provides access to deeper parts of the consciousness. Since then, various fields of research have been using photo-elicitation and discussed its methodological use (Benjamin 2015; Richard and Lahman 2015; Copes et al. 2018; Pyyry et al. 2021). The method is prominently used in health research (Glaw et al. 2017; Tewahido et al. 2023) and in the context of education and teaching (Kurtz and Wood 2014; Niesyto 2019; Hidalgo Standen 2021; Zhang and Hennebry-Leung 2023; Regoczi and Shanmugam 2024).
In the field of geography, the integration of visual methods into qualitative research dates back to the mid-1990s (Dirksmeier 2013, 85). Since then, spatial research has turned towards theoretical and methodological reflections on the relationship between images, audiences and space (Rose 2003; Schlottmann and Miggelbrink 2015). In the following, the method of photo-elicitation found its way into geographical research (Coleman 2016; Pyyry et al. 2021; Genz and Helbrecht 2023; Dobrusskin et al. 2024; Pohl and Helbrecht 2025).
While the method offers significant potential – particularly in capturing complex, multi-perspective narratives of spatial settings –, it also has certain limitations, such as its reliance on text-based analysis. Further limitations will be discussed in the section on evaluation.
Fig. 1: Photo-elicitation interview on housing (in)securities © Carolin Genz, 2025
Procedure
We recommend the following five steps to conduct a photo-elicitation interview, as outlined in the research example below. This stepwise strategy (see fig. 2) ensures a methodologically grounded and reflexive image selection process, while maintaining openness to subjective and affective interpretations. This description assumes that the specific research interest, question and sample have already been defined, and that the focus is now on designing the survey method.
Fig. 2: Reflexive strategy for conducting a photo-elicitation study © Carolin Genz, 2025
Step 1: Image selection based on thematic categories
The first step in a photo-elicitation interview is to select the images. Images can be chosen based on conceptual categories derived from the theoretical research discourse in which the interview is thematically situated. They can correspond to different levels of abstraction along a continuum, ranging from scientific “visual inventories of objects, people and artifacts” to portrays of the “intimate dimension of the social” in the lives of the interviewees (Harper 2002, 13). The degree of abstraction should depend on the research question. In photo-elicitation, it is crucial that images are not overly explicit but instead possess a certain “surplus of meaning” – that is, they evoke ambiguity (Dobrusskin et al. 2024). This ambiguity invites participants to engage more deeply by projecting their own experiences, memories, and emotions onto the image. Photographs can be requested directly from photographers, sourced from stock or taken by the researchers themselves (e.g. while accompanying a potential interviewee in a specific setting or during a particular action). In geographical studies, the scale and spatial setting depicted should be admitted. Finally, the ethical considerations surrounding what or whom is depicted, and how, should be acknowledged, as should the right to publish a picture (Dobrusskin et al. 2024). When presenting the results of photo-elicitation research, it is often helpful to provide an insight into the pictures used.
Step 2: Development of analytical grids
A careful reflection on the assumptions made by the researchers on the images should be recorded. An analytical grid (see fig. 3) can be created to structure the selection process in reference to the research topic and question. These grids allow for a systematic assessment of images based on their content, and visual qualities, ensuring they offer ambiguity and interpretative openness.
Fig. 3: Analytical grid to structure the selection of images © Carolin Genz, 2025
Step 3: Pretest: Focus groups
The pre-selected images should be tested before the collection of empirical data. Discussing them in interdisciplinary focus groups, using participatory and multimodal methods, can help with this step. In this case, the focus group consisted of an interdisciplinary team of urban researchers. They discussed a set of three images using ‘silent commentary’ and collective discussion rounds. The images were selected based on their capacity to elicit meaningful dialogue within the focus group, alongside a strong relevance to the overarching research question.
Step 4: Use of images in narrative interviews
Images can then be incorporated into interviews. Participants are invited to share their personal experiences or emotions in response to the images, which provides a deeper insight into the research topic. Questions such as “What does the depicted have to do with you?” or “What memories or emotions come to mind when you look at the picture?” can be used to elicit narratives of spatial environments or embodied experiences. Depending on the research interests, a set of images can be incorporated, a free selection can be made, or a combination of these two approaches can be used.
Step 5: Interpretative interview analysis
This step involves transcribing the recording and systematically coding and interpreting the transcript to identify key themes and patterns that are relevant to the research questions. The analytical grid from step 2 can form the basis for this interpretation. Depending on the data collected, integrating image-based analysis may provide additional contextual insights to complement the textual evaluation.
Requirements
- The photo-elicitation method can be used for individual or group interviews. Participants should be willing to share their experiences, memories or emotions, if they are the focus of the research, and they should be willing to give one to two hours of their time. Whether to offer interviewees an incentive to participate should be considered.
- It is advisable to discuss a privacy policy and to obtain consent for making an audio recording of the interview.
- The interview setting should allow the interviewees to speak openly in a quiet, private environment, in which they feel comfortable. Often, interviewees have their own suggestions for such a setting.
- The pictures used in the photo-elicitation interview should be provided in high resolution and in sufficient size (e.g. A4). The haptic nature of a printed image, which can be touched, turned or retrieved independently, offers advantages over digital images.
Evaluation
Photo-elicitation is an effective research method for exploring personal experiences, emotions, and memories. Using photographs as prompts enables participants to express themselves more affectively and reflectively, often accessing layers of meaning that might remain inaccessible in traditional interview formats. The visual stimuli can help to bridge linguistic and cultural barriers, making photo-elicitation a valuable tool in diverse learning environments. This makes photo-elicitation especially suitable for research contexts that aim to explore subjective realities and affective dimensions.
In terms of effort and cost, photo-elicitation has moderate demands. However, it also presents several challenges, particularly with regard to the use and management of images. In the photo-elicitation, it is essential that the selected images are sensitive to participants’ cultural and personal contexts to avoid discomfort or misinterpretation. Privacy is another crucial aspect: informed consent must be secured from participants and, where applicable, from individuals depicted in the images, especially if they are identifiable or the content is sensitive. Additionally, copyright and intellectual property rights must be respected, when using images to present research results. This means that permissions or licenses for externally sourced images must be obtained to prevent legal and ethical issues. Acquiring image rights for the use of photographs can pose a significant challenge.
Example
This research example[1] explores how people experience housing in times of increasing complexity, marked by overlapping global crises such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and digital transformation. These so-called “polycrises” are not only reshaping our everyday environments but are also affecting people’s sense of security (Genz and Helbrecht 2023). The project asks how this emotional and psychological sense of security is created, disrupted, or negotiated in everyday residential life. Ultimately, the research aims to understand how housing functions not just as shelter, but as a key site for emotional well-being, social belonging, and identity formation, especially under conditions of uncertainty.
A multi-stage reflexive strategy was implemented to ensure the relevance, openness, and interpretive richness of the chosen photographs and their use in the interview. This five-step strategy involved iterative reflection, group discussions, and critical evaluation, allowing the research team to continuously question and refine both the selection criteria and the interpretive potential of the visual material. For the application of the introduced strategy see figure 4:
Fig. 4: Reflexive strategy for conducting a photo-elicitation study on housing (in)security © Carolin Genz, 2025
The photographs used in the interviews were categorized by the researchers based on existing research discourses in the field of housing studies, such as “everyday living”, “housing as social infrastructure”, “financialization of housing” and “homelessness”. These categories serve to capture the emotional, social, and structural dimensions of housing experiences. The image selection process was informed by a desk research process that sought visual representations for each category (see fig. 5 for an example).
Fig. 5: #12 San Francisco 2017_18, Living Room © Jana Sophia Nolle
An analytical grid was developed to systematically assess the presuppositions concerning the selected photographs (see fig. 6 for an example). In a subsequent multi-stage qualification process, the images were further discussed and evaluated by a focus group to ensure their relevance and interpretive potential.
Fig. 6: Analytical grid to structure the selection of images on housing (in)security © Carolin Genz, 2025
Consequently, this approach provided deeper and more nuanced insights into participants’ perceptions of housing and (in)security, revealing personal meanings that may not surface through verbal interactions alone. A central finding of this study is that housing must be understood not only as an economic issue, but as a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses social, psychological, and emotional dimensions. The photo-elicitation interviews illustrate how housing is becoming an increasingly complex challenge at both the individual and societal levels: Depending on factors such as age, location, and housing type, individuals face a broad spectrum of housing-related issues, including affordability, displacement, aging in place, and access to alternative, community-oriented living arrangements.
The analysis revealed recurring themes of insecurity and emotional attachment to place, as well as the struggle to maintain stability in a volatile housing market. These dynamics highlight the effects of broader structural shifts – such as urbanization, the concentration of housing in metropolitan regions, demographic change, and the transformation of traditional housing models – on the lived experiences of housing (Pohl et al. 2022; Genz and Helbrecht 2023). This underscores the need for housing research and policy to more fully engage with the socio-emotional dimensions of home and belonging.
The study also emphasized the potential of housing imaginaries – future-oriented, alternative concepts of living that go beyond fixed, ownership-based models. These imaginaries conceive housing as a fluid and dynamic process, adaptable to life phases and rooted in social interaction rather than material permanence. Housing is thus redefined not only as a physical structure but as a form of social infrastructure – a space shaped by relationships, shared responsibilities, and collective meaning-making.
Such perspectives challenge the rigid boundaries between private and public spaces, question the ideal of permanent stability, and call for more flexible, inclusive, and participatory approaches to living. To realize these possibilities, concrete policy and planning practices at the municipal level are needed – ones that frame housing as a shared societal responsibility.
Useful Resources
Next to classic desktop research, there are many platforms that offer license free photos, both free and paid. Popular free options include Pixabay, Pexels and Unsplash. Paid options often have a larger selection and higher quality images. Relevant platforms include Shutterstock, iStock and Getty Images.
[1] The research was conducted by Carolin Genz as part of the project „Wohn(un)sicherheit“ in cooperation with Sophie Mélix (UmbauStadt PartGmbB, Vienna), under the auspices of the vhw – Bundesverband für Wohnen und Stadtentwicklung, vhw Forschung, Berlin (2023-2025).
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