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Hand-Drawn Infographics: A Tool for Reflection and Creativity in Healthcare Research and Beyond

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Arts Based Health Care Research: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

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Abstract

This chapter draws on my experiences in creative research and academic development, placing the use of hand-drawn infographics into the wider context of my work using various arts-based, multisensory approaches in teaching. I outline the origin of my infographics practice, provide an overview of the importance of visual communication for researchers and explain the theoretical approaches underpinning my practice.

I set out the benefits for researches of this visual, hands-on approach:

  • A powerful tool for reflection, both on the self and the topic

  • A catalyst for creative thinking and gaining new insights

  • A vehicle for communication with diverse audiences

Visual hand-drawn infographic examples are used to illustrate the different ways that researchers can apply this technique. The chapter ends with three step-by-step practical activities that can be applied to a variety of healthcare research settings, a reflective exercise plus resources and tips for using this technique in future research.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

    Julia Reeve

Authors
  1. Julia Reeve
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Correspondence to Julia Reeve .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, Leicestershire, UK

    Kathryn Hinsliff-Smith

  2. Health Sciences School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK

    Julie McGarry

  3. Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, Leicestershire, UK

    Parveen Ali

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Reeve, J. (2022). Hand-Drawn Infographics: A Tool for Reflection and Creativity in Healthcare Research and Beyond. In: Hinsliff-Smith, K., McGarry, J., Ali, P. (eds) Arts Based Health Care Research: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94423-0_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94423-0_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-94422-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-94423-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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