Adapting Participatory Visual Methods to Online and Hybrid Settings: A Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of health researchers working with participatory visual methods (PVM) such as Photovoice and Digital Storytelling (DST) have shifted from in-person to online and hybrid settings. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore what the existing methodological literature tells us about these adaptations. Our review was oriented around two research questions: (1) What practices and adaptations have been implemented to create and deliver participatory visual methods projects, namely Photovoice and Digital Storytelling, in online and hybrid settings? (2) What are the ethical and equity considerations for promoting community member engagement in online PVM? We searched six international databases for peer-reviewed methodological articles published in all years, and a total of 32 articles met our inclusion criteria. Findings reveal that many adaptations were focused on methodological experimentation and extra planning and preparation. Ethical and equity considerations for promoting community member engagement focused on opportunities for flexible practice adaptations as well as recognizing potential tensions and tradeoffs. The review findings suggest that while there are reasons to be optimistic about the possibilities for increasing reach, accessibility and inclusivity in online PVM initiatives, ambiguities exist regarding participatory engagement, methodological adherence, and the sustainability and future of these methods in online settings. Future qualitative research should explore the experiences of PVM project teams along with further engagement with the post-pandemic literature as it emerges.