The Fathers in Focus project is a Photovoice research guided by the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work and its community partners. It aims to show the experiences and stories of fatherhood in Alberta. Utilizing photography to explore key questions, this project hopes to help build a community of fathers who are actively engaged in learning and working with each other in creating healthy families and communities.
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In this 11-minute orientation video, members of the project team cover key concepts around the Fathers in Focus – and what makes it a unique approach in community-based research.
Click here to read more about the project process, timeline, and other useful links, or scroll down for the Participant Resource Portal, where you can read some guides that might help you in your participation.
Here is a compilation of articles and videos that may help during your participation in the Fathers in Focus Research Project. This section is constantly updated as we progress in the research so feel free to reach out to any of our research coordinators if anything needs to be added here!
The Fathers in Focus project is a Photovoice research guided by the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work and its community partners. It aims to show the experiences and stories of fatherhood in Alberta. Utilizing photography to explore key questions, this project hopes to help build a community of fathers who are actively engaged in […]
We have all had that feeling of capturing a photograph and feeling that it did not truly represent what we saw or experienced at that time. This is because the way we experience the world extends beyond that single frame. We cannot capture the smell of the grass, the sound of laughter, the way the […]
Less is more, but not always. Choosing a photo or a series of three photos that represent a story that you want to tell can be one of the most challenging steps in this project. In most cases, you may benefit from having a large pool of photos to choose from but you may also […]
Before the second focus group meeting, you will be asked to send your photos and stories in advance so that the facilitators can display it on the screen as you tell the story behind them in an online environment. The best practice is to send the highest quality available. At any point, please avoid transferring […]
In research, a focus group is a technique that involves a group of selected people getting together to discuss a given topic. Through these interactions, researchers (and participants) can explore and learn about themes, patterns and attitudes toward the topic. Fathers in Focus will hold three focus group meetings. Here is what to expect from […]
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most of the meetings and interactions between co-researchers will need to be done through an online platform. We have chosen to use Zoom for this purpose. Here is a checklist of the things you will need to be able to participate: A stable internet connection Smartphone, or tablet, or […]
Portraying an experience, a person, or a community using images can be extremely powerful. We previously talked about the power of images and the way stories can inform, change or influence perspectives, or with that very same power, mislead and cause harm to a person or a community. When photographing your story, please keep the […]
Researchers Rita DhungelReseracher Rita with Nepali heritage is an assistant professor with the School of Social Work at MacEwan University. Rita meaningfully engages with communities in uncovering socio-political contexts and its impacts on their lives through community -based studies teaching and practices. By using photovoice as a transformative tool, Rita has made significant contributions to […]
