Video as Research

Video Data...
Recording the events that occurred in a particular place and time.
Place is represented by the background. How does the background interact with the subject matter?
Time... Motion... Video deals with motion or movement of the subject matter with it's environment as well as the environment with its subject matter.
Video documents the truth behind what can tend to be overlooked, but it is important as the researcher we are careful in the editing process.

Today I watched one of Janice Rahn's video documentaries called, B-Girls: Women in Hip Hop. Her documentary captures the influence women have on hip hop culture by looking at various different mediums such as breaking (dance),scratching (music), and graffiti(visual arts). In the concept of video as a medium for qualitative research, I can see how video can help one not misinterpret information. That most of the raw material of the event is present in a video. "Nuances of place, facial expressions, voice, and other characteristics of the interesting people who drove this research" are all included. Video holds good creditability for qualitative research as long as the editing process doesn't remove too much of the truth behind the research. Although the researcher should be conscious of their interpretation of the research and how they want that research to be presented. I also learned that video helps the audience deal with their own misinterpretations, by presenting a more truthful portrait of the people being documented.