Reimagining Photovoice: Leveraging AI for Inclusive and Equitable Engagement in Refugee Research

This methodology paper reimagines photovoice, a visual research method, by integrating artificial intelligence (AI), thereby expanding methodological options for both researchers and participants to foster more inclusive and equitable engagement in refugee research. Using AI-generated images, metaphors, and photocollage, displaced Ukrainian women in Canada co-created symbolic visuals to express complex emotions and experiences that may be difficult to capture through traditional photography. This approach addresses limitations of conventional photovoice by reducing technological and linguistic barriers, enhancing emotional expression, and supporting diverse representations of displacement and resettlement. Rather than replacing existing methods, this AI-assisted approach expands the methodological options available to researchers and participants, particularly in contexts where privacy concerns pose challenges. The paper demonstrates how creative technologies can deepen participant engagement and enrich refugee narratives. Ultimately, the proposed method shows how incorporating AI into photovoice can be used to engage refugee communities and support inclusive, impactful research in refugee studies.