Arts Based Research

BY STEVEN R. MONTEMAYOR

Preview
Defining Arts Based Research (ABR)
ABR Perspectives
ABR in Qualitative Research
Advantages of ABR
Disadvantages of ABR
Discussion Questions

ABR Textbooks

Arts Based Research

Relatively new approach (Keen & Todres, 2006)
Commonly used to explore health and social issues

What do you see?

Arts Based Research

The basic principle is the incorporation of art making
into the research process
Ways of accessing additional data, information
(participants or researcher)
Way of incorporating art making as a means of
transformation for participants i.e., transformational
research practices

ABR Perspectives
Barone & Eisner (2012)
An aspect of qualitative research
Results in emotionally evocative expression(s) which informs
the reader in an empathic way
Designed to enlarge human understanding (p.8)
Methodological pluarlism (multiple perspectives) in depth
understanding

ABR Perspectives

Leavy (2009)

Many types; narrative inquiry, poetry, music, dace/movement,

visual arts, photography
Holistic perspective
Data Collection (hermeneutics: branch of knowledge that deals
with interpretation), analysis, interpretation, & representation

Sample RQ in ABR
How might we use drawings to study childrens emotional development after
experiencing trauma?

Methodology
Action Research
Visual Arts
Narratives
Photo Elicitation (athletes with chronic illness)
Family Photographs

Data Collection
Photos
Interviewing/Photos
Elicitation photography
Vignettes
Puppets
Dolls

Reflection-What does this

represent?

Advantanges of ABR

Facilitation of description of experiences

Communicate emotional aspects of experiences (depth through

expression/art)
Liberating, provides voice for those without voice, allows for
diverse ways of approaching a topic or describing an experience
Create awareness of problems, stimulate discussion and foster
readiness for change
Can allow for expression regardless of linguistic ability

Disadvantages of ABR
Consider the question/research
Validity & reliability-considered inappropriate measures of good
ABR
ABR can be controversial, political, dismissed, by more
conservative researchers embedded in a positivist, empirical
framework
Participants may be fearful engaging in art
Need to ensure participants art is not being judged

ABR Traditions
Constructivist, post-modern, feminist, traditions
(Leavy) examines sense of identity and self,
constructed within a particular language or settingengaging art making process, you give voices to
groups that do not possibly have a voice or internal
voices

Reflection Question
Why might someone wish to utilize such practices
What are your thoughts on ABR if you were doing a qualitative
project?

Questions?

Work Cited
Barone, T. (Eds.). (2008). How arts-based research can change minds. In M.
Cahnmann-Taylor & R. Siegesmund (Eds.), Arts-based research in education:
Foundations for practice(pp. 28-49). New York, NY: Routledge.
Keen, S., & Todres, L. (2006). Communicating qualitative research findings:
An annotated bibliographic review of non-traditional dissemination strategies.
Bournemouth University.
Leavy, P. (2009). Method meets art: Arts-based research practice. New York,
NY: The Guilford Press.
McNiff, S. (2008). Art-based research. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley
Publishers.