The IVMP is an initiative of a group of researchers, artists and practitioners interested in advancing the study and use of visual methodologies in social research. Our work spans a number of countries and research sites including Canada, South Africa, Swaziland, the Caribbean, China and Germany. We are committed to the idea of ‘putting people in the picture’ by ensuring that participants can ‘see for themselves’ through the uses of photography, video documentary, performance and so on as tools which are central to the research process. Our work applies in particular to addressing prevention, treatment and care in HIV and AIDS, safe schools, girlhood studies, gender, and poverty.

A tool-space

The IVMP offers a virtual ‘tool-space’ which contains guides, bibliographies, theoretical and practical writings and examples of visual studies which draw on a number of different visual methodologies. These include photo voice, video and photo documentary, visual art-making, material culture and performance - approaches that can be used as modes of inquiry, modes of representation and modes of dissemination of findings. In so doing the IVMP brings together work in Visual Studies, Media Education, Cultural Studies, Entertainment Education, Digital and Culture. We are particularly interested in the following:
• the interpretive process in working with the visual,
• reflexivity and self-study within social change
• ethical challenges in using visual data,
• technical issues in working with both digital and non digital data,
• archival issues,
• methodological concerns related to participatory processes.

An exhibition site

The IVMP site also serves as an exhibition centre for the various visual methodologies and social change studies of team members. Much of our work involves children and young people in “seeing for themselves’. It also explores the ways in which schools and communities can be at the centre of change

For further information contact Claudia Mitchell, Faculty of Education, McGill University.
Claudia.mitchell@mcgill.ca