Doctoral Program
Ⅳ. Practice-Based Doctoral Program Manual (FAQ)
The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) include a description of practice-based research for students and advisors involved in the doctoral research program.
1. What Is “Research” in Practice-Based Graduate Arts Courses?
Practice-based arts research broadly includes the same meaning as ordinary research, but the manner in which topics are selected is somewhat different.
In general, “ research ” is defined as posing one’s own questions regarding something that is still unclear and elucidating answers to the questions. This is easy to understand when the differences between “study”, “ investigate”, and “research” are considered.
- Study: Learning about or mastering a skill related to something that already exists (something that has been systematized)
- Investigate: Collecting data (reference materials) required to clarify something
- Research: Posing questions regarding something that is unclear to elucidate answers to the questions
In this regard, “ research ” differs from “ study ” or “ investigate, ” and skillfully posing questions is as important as the act of deriving answers (and often more so than the answers themselves).
In regard to practice-based arts courses, “research” means posing questions in the process of producing art works or performing music and then pursuing answers through practice andtrial-and-error. As such, the important aspect along with intellectual curiosity is to think of the most important questions in the effort to hone your technical and expressive abilities.
2. Can Research in Practice-based Graduate Arts Courses be considered as “Scholarly”?
Practice-based research is in fact scholarly. That being said, as opposed to the case of “ pure ” scholarship that seeks to add new knowledge to existing academic systems, practice-based research discovers topics in the arena of practice andexplores for corresponding answers.
For clarification, the two styles are compared as follows:
- Pure scholarship: The act of adding new knowledge in an academic field that is already systematized. In this case, the learning system is first mastered, and then unexplored areas are unearthed for investigative research (e.g., research on historical materials, philosophy, and theoretical physics).
- Practice-based research: Issues that require resolution are selected and answers are sought in response (e.g., disaster preparedness studies, clinical philosophy, and engineering).
Traditional arts and Music studies, such as art/ music history and esthetics, can be described as pure scholarship. On the other hand, research in practicebased arts courses belong to practice-based research.
However, pure scholarship and practice-based research are archetypes and not mutually antagonistic. For example, research in pure scholarship fields also includes practical aspects and academic procedures also must be followed in practice-based research. A grasp of previous research and case studies is also required in research fields involving the practice of arts. Moreover, methods (methodologies) for pursuing queries have to be delineated and processes leading to answers must be simplified.
3. What Research Approaches are used in Practice-based Graduate Arts Courses?
What we simply refer to as “ research ” involves all types of approaches. The following are ordinarily used in multiple combinations. A review of previous research (1 below) is an absolute requirement in any type of dissertation, and 2 and 3 below are especially important for practice-based artistic research. Hypothetically, 2 could be used in combination with 5 and 6.
The research goals determine which approach to use. However, in all instances, the research methods used must be clearly described in the dissertation (delineation of methodologies).
1.Document research: Previous research is closely examined to find new perspectives and interpretations. The review of previous research that is first presented in a dissertation is one example. Examining previous case studies might also be conceivable in practice-based research in arts courses.
2.Action research: This is similar to participant observation (immediately below), but it involves initiating some type of action and then recording and reflecting on (reviewing) the results. In practice-based research in arts courses, recording and reflecting on one’s creative practice process or some type of experiment (e.g., educational practice) with other persons and then recording and reflecting on it might be conceivable.
3.Participant observation: The researcher travels to a location, joins a group there, and then observes, records, and analyzes the proceedings. This might mean observing the process while participating in the creation of a collectively produced work of art or observing a rehearsal as a participant in an ensemble.
4.Case study research: One or more case studies are selected and investigated. The researcher observes an unprecedented, unique scholastic program, event, or concert (from start to finish) and elucidates its successes or problems.
5.Historical and analytical research: Materials and data are collected and analyzed to reveal unknown situations. Illustrate the background to previous works’ execution and acceptance. Analyze works to deduce their special qualities. Analyze the details of past works or performances based on audiovisual recordings.
6.Hypothetical research: A hypothesis is first posited and then investigated and tested to see if it is correct. Prove that certain materials or structures have been used in a work through investigations and analyses. Experiment to verify the types of techniques that should be used to achieve a certain expression.
