Visual Methodology in Educational Research: A Systematic Review and Literature Mapping

Visual methodology has gained an increasingly significant role in educational research in recent decades. Its application is based on the assumption that visual data can provide deeper insight into the experiences, meanings, and perspectives of participants in the educational process, thereby complementing classical qualitative approaches mainly based on interviews and observation. The aim of this paper is to synthesise and describe the fundamental characteristics of visual methodology, identify the most commonly used visual methods, and analyse the educational research contexts in which they are applied. Special attention is paid to the methodological possibilities of visual approaches, as well as to challenges related to the interpretation of visual data, ethical issues, and research validity. To achieve these objectives, a combination of literature mapping and a systematic review approach was applied in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The literature search was conducted in the Scopus database on 7 March 2026 using keywords related to visual methodology and education, including papers published between 2015 and 2026. Studies were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and 10 eligible scientific papers were included in the final analysis. The findings showed that drawings, photographs, and video recordings were the most frequently used visual methods. Visual methods were often combined with interviews or focus groups, supporting data triangulation and strengthening the interpretation of visual materials. By combining visual and verbal methods, participants, especially children, are enabled to take a more active role in the research process, further emphasising the importance of their voice and perspective.