Interviews and focus groups are the most common methods of data collection in qualitative research. The purpose of these types of data collection is to gather rich, in-depth information and explore peoples’ views and experiences. They can be a great way to get feedback from individuals (interviews) or groups of people (focus groups) on a project, and can provide information to triangulate with quantitative data (e.g., survey data). CPDE staff are skilled in developing interview and focus group guides aligned with research and project goals/objectives, facilitating and moderating interviews and focus groups, and interpreting and reporting data resulting from them.
Photovoice and photo-elicitation are two types of community-based participatory research methods that invite study participants to share their individual point of view through photography and words. These methods turn traditional research on its head by putting the focus of the empowerment on the participants themselves. Participants take pictures and describe in their own words what they photographed and why to lead to a range of outcomes including eliciting information about a specific topic (e.g., photo-elicitation) to enacting policy change (e.g., photovoice). CPDE will help you to develop a photovoice or photo-elicitation project tailored to the needs of your community. CPDE staff are skilled in developing and executing these types of projects, as well as training community members in how to conduct them.