Integrating Arts-Based Approaches in Mixed Methods Research with Diverse Stakeholders

Although mixed methods researchers are increasingly using arts-based approaches, how these approaches can be integrated in work involving diverse stakeholders is under-theorized. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the implications of integrating arts-based approaches in mixed methods studies involving diverse stakeholders. After identifying our contextual and conceptual frameworks, we briefly describe our methods for locating and selecting four case examples for discussion. These examples come from a range of disciplines (e.g., education, public health), used a variety of arts-based approaches (e.g., dance, drawing, music), and used multiple forms of integration (e.g., data transformation, merging integration). Then, with each example, we briefly summarize the study and reflect on what the study offers to us as teacher-researchers, one in a university context and the other in a k-12 context. Our reflections highlight how our different positionalities impact our visions for applying these studies methodologically and conceptually in our own work. We then provide a discussion of the similarities and differences across the case examples and highlight the benefits and challenges to integrating arts-based approaches in mixed methods studies when working cross-culturally with research team members, participants, and other stakeholders.