Arts-Based Research in Education: Foundations for Practice

This text introduces readers to definitions and examples of arts-based educational research, presents tensions and questions in the field, and provides exercises for practice. It weaves together critical essays about arts-based research in the literary, visual, and performing arts with examples of artistic products of arts-based research (arts for scholarship’s sake) that illuminate by example. Each artistic example is accompanied by a scholARTist’s statement that includes reflection on how the work of art relates to the scholar’s research interests and practices.

Arts-Based Research in Education: Foundations for Practice:

• helps the reader understand what arts-based research is – tracing the history of the field and providing examples;
• includes end-of-chapter questions to engage students in practicing arts-based inquiry and to generate class discussion about the material;
• features a diverse range of contributors -- very established scholars in educational and social science research as well those new to the field;
• represents a variety of voices – scholars of color, queer and straight orientations, different ages, experience, and nationalities; and
• presents beautiful illustrations of visual art, data-based poems, plays, short stories, and musical scores.

First-of its kind, this volume is intended as a text for arts-based inquiry, qualitative research methods in education, and related courses, and as a resource for faculty, doctoral students, and scholars across the field of social science research methods.

"This text will appeal to doctoral students and faculty, including those from disciplines other than education. The multi-voiced and diverse artists’ offerings make it a useful resource, and the chapter-end questions lend value as a workbook. Arts-Based Research in Education is an important addition to qualitative theory. It provides clear explanations of arts-based research, its history, and ethical contributions."--The Qualitative Report