Comparing In-Person and Online Modalities for Photo Elicitation Interviews Among a Vulnerable Population: Recruitment, Retention, and Data Collection Applications

The purpose of the current study was to use Orsmond and Cohn’s feasibility framework to compare two methods of collecting photo elicitation interviews: (1) in-person and (2) online among low-income community college students. We described the feasibility of the recruitment and retention procedures and compared the participants’ characteristics and the type of data obtained by data collection modality. Focus group participants ( n = 34) were invited to participate in photo elicitation interviews regarding barriers to food access and associated material hardships. Prior to the pandemic, photo elicitation interviews were conducted in-person. Due to pandemic-related stay-at-home policies, photo elicitation interviews shifted to a video conferencing platform. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were used to compare the two data collection methods in terms of sample characteristics, the average length of each interview, and the number and type of photos submitted. Of 34 recruited participants, 28 participated in photo elicitation interviews (82.4% response rate; n = 13 in-person; n = 15 online) with a mean age of 39.75 years (range: 19–62). No significant differences were found in socio-demographic characteristics between interview modality groups. In both online and in-person photo elicitation groups, participants were more likely to be female, non-Hispanic Black, single, and unemployed. Overall, both modalities were found to be feasible to recruit and retain participants and collect data from low-income, community college students. We found similar data in terms of photographs, and similar codes and themes were generated from the interview data across both modalities. Using both modalities provided an opportunity to promote equity in research through inclusion of hard-to-reach populations who may experience barriers to participation such as transportation or childcare. This study can inform recruitment and retention efforts for quantitative and qualitative research, and data collection efforts for photo elicitation interviews. The lessons learned are critical to generating rich data and advancing research conducted among vulnerable populations.