Using georeferenced photo-elicitation projects to understand survivor resources: a method for trauma-informed practice in higher education

Objective This research examined the use of georeferenced photo-elicitation projects in conducting "assets inventories" of on-campus resources for students who have been the victims of violence. Participants: A pilot study was conducted with 27 undergraduate students at a small, Hispanic-serving, Catholic, liberal arts university. Methods: Students participated in a photo-elicitation project, submitting geotagged digital photographs of on-campus resources for victims of violence. Results: Thematic and spatial analyses revealed both place-based and person-based resources, some of which were not previously recognized by administrators. Mapping of resources showed areas of concentration and potential areas for future development. Assets were unique to the university studied, grounded both in its culture and history. Conclusions: GIS-based photo-elicitation research is useful for assessing current and potential trauma-informed on-campus resources. The pilot study is replicable on other campuses, allowing administrators to better understand how student needs are uniquely defined, currently being met, or can be better met.