Paper short abstract:

the photo eliciting technique is introduced to cover the gap between researchers and interlocutors in fragile settings covering refugees' encampments, and indigenous communities

Paper long abstract:

When we interact with fluid, changing and fragile communities – in terms of composition, roles and positioning – like it is often the case with refugees’ urban encampments and indigenous minorities we are challenged to adjust both our expectations and methods to such specific settings. Ethical questions as well as political sensitivities push us to explore alternative means of approach and communication with our research subjects with the specific aim to give them voice. The introduction of the photo eliciting technique is often able to serve this goal: in the course of our conversation we introduce images urging our interlocutors to share with us reflections, and memories generated by the images themselves. In other situations, we may invite our interlocutors to propose us self-produced photos and videos or make use of internet through our or their devices in order to explain the theme of enquiry. While helping to overcome the linguistic gap and the cultural distance the use of photo-eliciting had at least two important fallouts for research: it may highlight participant voices through their choices visuals and words activating unexpected paths and encourages the creation of a comfortable space for discussion even in the absence of a deep prior knowledge between respondents and researchers.