Expanding discourse around dying through Photovoice: Part II

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Description of Research Project

If you are a student interested in research related to death, dying and bereavement, this DARE project may be of interest to you!

Buoyed by her own experiences as a hospice social worker, Maxxine's research has so far has focused on disrupting and expanding dominant discourses about dying and suffering within the fields of palliative and end-of-life care. Maxxine's current research project will expanding upon this work by helping to amplify the voices of people who are themselves diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses. She aims to use Photovoice as a tool to help make visible aspects of dying from a life-limiting illness that are inherently difficult and may be less acknowledged/visible within palliative care’s literature/discourse. She aims to use these research results to not only shape psychosocial care/practice in palliative and end-of-life care, but also as a tool for public education/support/dialogue about dying.

Maxxine worked with a DARE student on this project in 2025, and this year’s DARE opportunity will build on this foundational work. This project is still in the ‘development/grant-writing’ stages; if you are the successful DARE student, you will join Maxxine’s research team for the summer of 2026! What might your role entail? Depending on where the project is at, you may learn skills related to and support: the review of academic literature (2020-2026) related to “social constructions of a ‘good death’”; the development of the project’s Knowledge Mobilization Strategy (how we will disseminate project findings); and the review of existing podcasts on dying/death.

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Undergraduate Student Responsibilities

• Literature review(s) related to the project's aims
• Support the development of the project's Knowledge Mobilization Strategy
• Review the focus of existing podcasts on dying/death
• Contribute to the drafting of a tangible research plan/research grant application

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Qualifications Required

• Interest in social work practice and/or research in death, dying and bereavement would be ideal
• Experience reviewing literature (reading journal articles/book chapters) and being able to clearly summarize key points/create annotated bibliography is preferred
• Strong writing skills preferred
• Willing to meet bi-weekly (8 times) via Zoom during the 4-month project
• Able to provide regular updates on their responsibilities via email/Zoom
• Interested in contributing to the development of a research project in its grant-writing stages
• Interested in learning more about arts-based/participatory research methodologies
• Willing to learn!
• Open to receiving constructive/compassionate feedback