Project Aims
This project explores Latinx student perceptions of “servingness” at Sacramento State, a Hispanic Serving Institution, and aims to interrogate how university policies, programs and practices support Latinx student success.
The project is driven by the following research questions:
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How do Latinx we, as students. perceive Sacramento State, our Hispanic Serving Institution, as serving us?
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How we, as Latinx students, define student success?
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How can institutional elements and the campus environment better serve Latinx students?
Project Process
1
Photovoice - Cohort 1
A cohort of 9 Latinx undergraduate students, Mariposas con Voces met throughout spring 2022 to engage in a photovoice research process. After 161 photos and 45 hours, they identified 8 cross-cutting thmes regarding how they define Latinx student success and how Sac State, as our HSI, can serve them. Each theme consists of representative photos and a collectively constructed narrative.
2
Photovoice - Cohort 2
A cohort of 6 Latinx undergraduate students, Songs of the Hummingbird met throughout fall 2022 to engage in a photovoice research process. After 54 photos and 45 hours, they identified 10 cross-cutting themes regarding how they define Latinx student success and how Sac State, as our HSI, can serve them. Each theme consists of representative photos and a collectively constructed narrative.
3
Survey
Drawing from the themes identified through photovoice from each cohort, the cohorts came together to develop a survey to examine how their themes generalize to Latinx undergraduate students at Sac State.
This survey will provide a deeper look into the role that HSIs can play in serving Latinx students.
What is Photovoice?
Photovoice is a research methodology.
We have used this methodology as part of our project. As part of this method research participants engage in cycles of taking photographs related to the research questions and engaging in critical discussions about those photos as they relate to the project goals.
The three major aims of photovoice are:
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allow participants to document their lives on their own terms;
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to raise critical consciousness among participants; and
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to create positive change through reaching out to decision-makers using the photographs and research project.
Learn more about Photovoice
Photovoice resources:
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Wang, C. (2006). Youth participation in photovoice as a strategy for community change. Journal of Community Practice, 14(1-2), 147-161. https://doi.org/10.1300/J125v14n01_09
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Latz, A. O. (2017). Photovoice research in education and beyond: A practical guide from theory to exhibition. Taylor & Francis.
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Lykes, M. B., & Scheib, H. (2015). The artistry of emancipatory practice: Photovoice, creative techniques, and feminist anti-racist participatory action research. The SAGE handbook of action research, 131-142.
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Photovoice Worldwide (website).