The viability and appropriateness of using visual methods in end of life research to foreground the experiences of people affected by financial hardship and deprivation.
Naomi RichardsSam QuinnMargaret MitchellEmma CarduffMerryn GottPublished in: Palliative medicine (2023)
To successfully use visual methods, researchers need to invest significant time and resource in building a strong rapport with participants. There are also key ethical, practical and representational challenges to consider. A participatory framework should be adopted which ensures agency for participants in terms of image creation and public dissemination. Participants reported value in using visual methods in terms of legacy building and self-representation. Using photovoice (insider's view) and professional photography (outsider's view) together offered complementary perspectives, enabling a rich layering of stories and meaning. Our findings indicate visual methods can illuminate aspects of the end of life experience not captured by other research methods.