Visual Diaries As a Form of Evaluating the Research Process and Creating the Self-Reflexivity of the Researcher

Self-reflexivity of the researchers is becoming important aspect of social science research. It is fundamental in international projects, especially those, where researcher conducts research in many different countries. In my presentation I would like to discuss the visual diaries research technique as a form of building and sustaining the self-reflexivity of the researcher and thus evaluating the research process. I will refer to research project „RurAction. Social Entrepreneurship in Structurally Weak Rural Regions: Analysing Innovative Troubleshooters in Action”. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 721999.

Visual diares are one three most important areas of visual data in RurAction Project, along with photo and video documentation. It is important that the diaries will be provided not by participants, but by Early-Stage Researchers. They will be created during the research secondments as well as in everyday scientific work of ESRs. Basing on the primary results of the project, I will discuss such aspects of visual diaries as a form of self-reflexivity, as for example: everyday (scientific and non-scientific) routines of the researcher, relations in multinational research team, relations with participants of the research and other inhabitants of researched territories. I will also underline selected ethical issues of such visual diares, as well as participatory forms of creating the diary tool during workshops with ESRs.

Thus the visual diaries will be described in three ways. Firstly, as a form of gaining knowledge on local visual and material culture, which will help in later stage of the research, while creating photo documentation and documentary film. Secondly, as a way of learning and integrating into unknown culture by the researchers. Thirdly, as tool helping to understand and renegotiate the assumptions and goals of the whole research proces.