Image-Based Research
2Sunday, November 4, 2012 by Unknown
I am not really sure about the reliability of image-based
research as I have always been one to believe that a picture is worth a thousand
words. In Knight’s readings, he does
state that image-based research is not easy because images are information-rich
and difficult to analyse in any systematic way (p.102). A picture can frame data within a specific
context, i.e. we do not see what is beyond the image which can reveal an
entirely different context and reality. In
this case, Knight suggests that it is helpful to have plenty of notes to fill
in some of the context that the camera or sketch misses (p.104). But I suppose that really just means that
image-based research is only helpful when it is used along with other research
methods and sources of data. I
personally would find it really interesting to analyse images but I would be
afraid to rely too heavily on the data, as the understandings that I generate
may simply be my own interpretation or perspective. Furthermore, image-based research is a fairly
new method in the social sciences and hence there is little written on the
topic to assist researchers (p.102).
I agree that images add an interesting dimension to research, even though it is risky to rely too heavily on image data alone. This week I was interested most by Knight’s account of post-empirical research, or the idea that fresh data and empirical inquiries are not the only means of understanding our society. It might be that an over-abundance of data only confuses inquiry when there is a plethora of existing data that can be interpreted in new ways. It is often the case that empirical research merely proves the researcher's hypothesis or perception of a certain social trend. While sound research methods and studies are necessary to support hypotheses academically, the fact that researchers are often right from the start suggests that people’s ideas are credible sources of social information. I think that this type of research, with its reliance on philosophical inquiry and reason, warrants more discussion.
ReplyDeleteI liked Knight’s comparison of post-empirical research to the study of history, wherein the discovery of new texts does not necessarily change people’s understanding of a particular person or event. Art history, furthermore, is comparable to image-based research. It looks primarily at the content of images – techniques and styles used, themes, motifs – in order to develop ideas about history, though it also uses contextual writings to supplement that content. I believe that you could develop sound ideas about art history from the images alone, though it is difficult to ignore certain preconceptions about time periods and geography. I think it is the same with image-based research today. We are so used to providing supportive context for images, artifacts, and ideas that we would be unable accept research based on images alone.
It would be interesting for someone to conduct a study on people’s use of instagram using only image-based methods…
Please add a reference to Knight's work discussed here.
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