Study – Using Photo-Elicitation to Capture Experiences of Malay Women with Sexual Dysfunction

When words fail to convey how you are feeling, sometime other mediums of expression are needed. Sometimes researchers incorporate photographers into their research. This methodology is called photo voice and photo-elicitation.

The Handbook of Social Inclusion discusses a study entitled “Photo-Elicitation for Inclusive Research on Sensitive Topics: Sexual Dysfunction and Malay Women.” Photo-elicitation is a method of interview that uses visual images to elicit comments. It is particularly useful for studying ineffable and difficult-to-talk-about experiences.

The types of images can include photographs, video, paintings,cartoons, graffiti, and other artwork. Either the interviewer or the subject may provide the images. In this case, the interviewer provided the photographs. The photographers from the book can be viewed in Google Images:

The researchers found that the photo-elicitation method helped the participants express the way they were feel when words have their limitations. It also helped the researchers understand what the Malay Women were expressing.

There are very few photo-elicitation studies that focus on orgasmology. In the future, it would be useful to have a photo-elicitation or art-based study of experiences of multiple orgasms, different type of orgasms, and many other orgasmology topics.

DISCUSSION 

What artwork, original or made by another person, can describe your person experience with an aspect of your orgasm or sex life? 

ABSTRACT 

Research into sensitive issues such as sexuality requires inclusive research methods if the experiences of women from diverse sociocultural backgrounds are to be included. Photo-elicitation is one of the visual methods adopted by the social and health sciences, particularly in research involving phenomena related to children and young adults, suitable for inclusive approaches as it offers opportunities for the inclusion of sensitive topics and/or vulnerable populations. This chapter uses a research study to explore sexuality issues among Malay women as a case study to show how photo-elicitation can be adopted. The aim of the research was to understand the meanings heterosexual Malay women attach to sexuality and their experiences of living with sexual dysfunction. In this case study, photo-elicitation facilitated data collection with photographs provided by the researchers. Photo-elicitation enabled participant experiences to be visualized and to be understood in ways that showed how the women perceived their problems and their impact. Communication on a topic that is strictly socially taboo was enhanced through the use of the photo-elicitation method. The chapter explains why participants preferred photo-elicitation over other visual methods and concludes with a summary of the strengths of photo-elicitation as a method, implications for practice, and recommendations for further use.