Using photo elicitation techniques to explore young women’s conceptualisations of older motherhood

This poster will illustrate some of the methodological and practical issues of the use of photo elicitation techniques within focus group research. 'Photo elicitation is based on the simple idea of inserting a photograph into the research interview. The difference between interviews and using images, and text and interviews using words alone lies in the way we respond to these two forms of symbolic representation' (Harper, 2002:13). The study upon which this poster is based, explored the meaning of motherhood within contemporary society by engaging women in discussions about fertility and reproduction. Since motherhood is a personal and life changing experience, study groups of young women from within a higher education institution were the focus of this study; these women comprised of mothers and non-mothers between the ages of 18 – 25 years. The discussion will consider how a series of photographs relating to motherhood were used to provide a means of stimulating discussion within focus group discussions. The choice of photographs, the sequence in which they were used and how they were used within the research, are central to the discussion. Photographs depicting mothers from across the age spectrums were chosen. By utilising a variety of photographs, sourced from different media, a series of open questions were linked to each photograph in order to elicit responses from participants and examine their attitudes to reproduction, motherhood and older mothers. The use of this technique can empower participants to verbalise their thoughts and feelings by responding to the 'visual,' thus generating rich data for analysis. The use of photo elicitation techniques is significant in addressing aspects of motherhood in which visual representation may influence women's attitudes to mothers within society today.