image-based research

I enjoyed Knight's reading this week on image-based research because this was probably my first formal introduction to this research method and I found it to be fascinating. I think we can all agree that images are powerful and serve as information-rich artifacts. Yet, as Knight discussed, they are also difficult to analyze in any systematic way. The image used by a researcher represents a certain point in time, and therefore it would be necessary to provide context and background to the image's place in time (Knight). Also challenging when using this method would be the potential for personal bias of the researcher in choosing images, which represents a certain power the researcher employing this method would have.

The discussion on image-based research reminded me of the book Wisconsin Death Trip by Michael Lesy. Lesy uses photographs taken in the nineteenth century to pain the picture of rural life during this period, in particular crime, death, disease, murder, etc., in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Though I would not necessarily argue that Lesy used an image-based research methodology, data could be extracted from the photographs presented in this book that could be valuable to researchers. I would recommend everyone check this book out, it is very interesting!

When I was deciding on the article that I would use for my peer review assignment, the article entitled "President or Dictator? A Comparison of Cuban-American Media Coverage of Cuban News" immediately jumped out at me as an article of interest but at the time I was unsure of how I would tackle the article for the assignment given my lack of familiarity with the research method employed. I then completed the readings on this method, and while I really enjoyed learning about content analysis, I ultimately decided to use an article that used a research method I was perhaps more comfortable with (focus groups). I do, however, have the desire to learn more about content analysis as a research method and hopefully employ it in the future.