“It’s Something That Will Stay With Me.” : A Qualitative Descriptive Study of the Experience of Participating in a Co-Produced Photovoice Study

Photovoice is a participatory visual methodology that can be used to collect rich qualitative insights into sensitive issues. Photovoice lends itself to a co-production framework. This qualitative study evaluates the experience of participating in a co-produced photovoice project in a Recovery College setting. A sample of 18 participants participated in this study, which consisted of three rounds of seven photography workshops, followed by focus group discussions. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. The study was co-produced within a Recovery College setting. Four themes were generated from the data analysis process. (1) Participants noted that they benefited from socialization with their peers as part of the project, which included sharing and commenting on photos, socializing within the sessions, and learning from each other. (2) Through the photovoice process, participants acquired substantial photography skills such as editing, captioning, and storytelling, while also becoming more aware of the visual richness of their world. (3) Participants were further stimulated to think differently about their experience of co-production, helping them reflect on the study topic, although some found the topic difficult to understand and translate into photographs. (4) Lastly, participants appreciated the design of the project, including the level of compensation, the workshop design and facilitation, and the support offered to participants. The themes are illustrated by subthemes and representative quotes. Participating in a co-produced photovoice project is a positive experience for participants, with many benefits in terms of skill development, personal growth and recovery, and deeper reflection. Aspects of the study that were co-produced were particularly appreciated by participants. These findings offer a replicable model for future photovoice initiatives aiming to optimize impact on participants while soliciting rich insights into research questions. Photovoice may be particularly relevant to Recovery Colleges and other co-production settings.