Initial Methods: At the beginning of the course, the plan was to use a 5 by 5 squared “bingo board” created by the researchers. Each of the squares contained a question that would be used to answer the overall research question, “How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the everyday spaces of children.” Along with this, the children that participated in the study were given a camera with film in it. Through the use of both the bingo board and their cameras, the children were asked to use the cameras to answer the questions by taking pictures of the things the questions on the board were asking of them. For example, if a square asked, “Where did you eat lunch last year?” the child was required to take picture of the place where they ate lunch last year. Once the children returned their cameras, the film would then be developed and would be used to perform interviews. Before the interviews would be performed, the children were required to have a permission forms signed by their parents to perform interviews with them, as well as have the children sign assent form to interview and record them. Using their pictures, the children were to be asked to elaborate on the pictures they took, in order to better understand how the images answered the questions on the board. Once the interviews were completed, the children would be given their developed pictures.
Methods Used: Research site visits consisted of being available to the students, to build rapport. Time was spent playing, talking, and hanging out with the kids as well as talking with parents. Cameras were handed out to those who were interested and returned a parent signed permission slip. The first picture on the camera was taken of the student receiving the camera. Students were instructed to try and take pictures of their surroundings, using the “bingo board” as ideas. Cameras were a sporadically returned, they were developed and brought to each session thereafter. Pictures were matched up to participant, assent forms were obtained before interview began. If the student gave permission to be taped, the interview was taped using the application Otter, which records and transcribes the process. If they only gave permission to be interviewed, notes were taken by the interviewer. When interviews actually occurred, the developed “bingo board” was used as question prompts. Once the interview was complete the pictures were given to the participating student.
