Value in the Visual: On Public Injecting,Visual Methods and Their Potential for Informing Policy (and Change)

Abstract

This paper concerns the application of visual methods within qualitative research and the ways in which they can be developed and applied to a range of settings for applied health (and other policy) purposes. Traditionally visual methods have been used as adjunct means to record data and representations of individuals, groups and cultures. Having emerged from a research tradition deeply rooted within the field of social/cultural anthropology they have been largely understated in more policy-orientated research or that with more practical benefits. Visual research however has potential to be utilised in this way, particularly in behavioural and other health areas, in which ‘added-value’ to ‘traditional’ text-based research findings can be provided. This paper seeks to demonstrate this potential and provide examples of ‘added-value’ with specific reference to a study of public environments appropriated by injecting drug users in an urban location.