When discussing Practice as Research, the visual practice work is seen as a piece of research on a subject. While there are no written texts to illustrate theories and approaches the images created themselves and the development work undergone is seen as research and can form conclusions on a subject. For this approach subjects would need to be broader with a completely visual research process possible. In photography subject documentaries can be seen as practice as research as the images created are the conclusions of the artist after analysing the subject throughout the series.
Practice-based Research and Practice-led research are sometimes used interchangeably. However practice-based research starts with a project idea that then influences my research development. The new directions and findings noted in the research are based on experiences made in own practice. It therefore needs visual outcomes to be included to explain the noted conclusions fully.
In comparison practice-led research is taking knowledge from research that in the following leads to new understandings in practice which now can be explored further in practical developments. The project ideas are supporting my research theory as they are rooted in it. Conclusions of the practice can be delivered in fully written texts.
Positivistic Methodologies include Surveys, Experimental Studies, Longitudinal Studies and Cross-sectional studies. Focusing on the positivistic methodologies some of the methodologies are more useful for creative research than others.
Surveys for instance give a neutral overview on a subject. They can be useful if the researcher is exploring the general reaction of the public however if the proposed research theme is a narrower art specific theme the survey won't be as useful.
Example my subject: Survey on Beauty in Mosses images? - Most people could tell me if they liked or disliked an image (descriptive survey Yes/No) Whereas the question what parts showed beauty or tragedy would be far more personal with varies answers (analytical survey) And finally very few people could tell me if it was an accurate representation of the situation in the Congo region as only a very small group of people would actually be familiar with the situation there.
Experimental Studies can be useful for some creative research however often creative projects are set in everyday situations, outside, and based on the unpredictability of life which makes the controllable environment unsuitable for later parts of the research process. First tests to familiarise with the phenomena and the variable options might be helpful for the research progress though. Looking at my own practice, experimental studies could be useful for the planned underwater imagery to try out different variables and analyse the result changes in water temperature, sun position etc can have on the final images.
Since longitudinal Studies are realised over an extended period of time requiring years of observation and knowledge on the subject, I would believe them not to be common practice for creative research. Creative researchers often have a creative background, however it is unlikely that they would also have the experience required to undergo longitudinal studies in varies areas they are connecting to their creative research field. My practice work on climate change would require me to do extensive primary studies into sea level rises and my creative research into different art forms and Mosses work on Beauty and Tragedy would require me to do extended travel to Africa.
Finally Cross-sectional studies seem to be an interesting approach also suitable for the creative research field. During the study different groups of people are involved in the data collection and the researcher can analyse differences and similarities at a specific point in time between the different groups. Creative practitioners can look for instance at artists, their intended audience or regional populations within the study to predict audiences reactions to the theme of their practice-based research.
Now looking at Phenomenological Methodologies, Case Studies seem to be a good example of a creative research methodology. Within the case studies the researcher can look in depth at specific art works, installations and creative approaches on subject to inform his own practice-based research. Analysing other artists work can be a good tool for idea generation and led to new knowledge and different perspectives to influence both practice and research.
The case studies I did throughout my practice have moved my project as well as my research into new directions and provided me with new ideas for final presentations and working titles.
Depending on the kind of creative research undertaken Ethnography (Participant Observation) can benefit the research as a part of the used Methodologies. To fully understand a subject it can be useful to become a part of the situation. Talk to others, observe reactions and base the creative research on these findings. While the overt approach can be valuable to gain insights into e.g local tribes the covert approach seems more difficult as a new member of any small group will stand out for a longer time therefore changing the results of the study.
If the researcher is sufficiently connected to creative groups and research networks the participative enquire can be a useful tool of research. If working with a well educated personal surrounding the cooperation of other artists, creatives and professionals can shape the research and add important new perspectives.For the best results, however it is important to be part of a well-educated group of people also personally connected to the research topic. For instance my network consists of photographers specialising in different fields, artists using different materials and peers specialising in various disciplines. Depending on my research theme I could ask each of these groups and get different results as they are all differently connected to the subject.
The feminist perspective can be a useful Methodology if working on a subject that will benefit from gender based research or support a feminist approach on a subject previously exclusively looked at from a male perspective. For my creative research I could specifically look into gender related reactions to Beauty and Tragedy as well as the different Causes of climate change depending on the different genders.
Approaching research without any pre-conceived ideas is the general idea of grounded theories. Emphasising the validity of the theory based on the data collected seems to be a good approach for creative research as the general idea of creative practice is often uncertain about the direction the work might be going during the development stages.
Silverman's Idea from 1993 to
Build categories from the data collected then
Give examples in categories to highlight importance before
Develop the established categories into broader framework also suitable outside the particular research area.
Can be used for the creative research process as well as research into different practitioners or experiments with different techniques can be used as data and examples of categories which can be seen as both practice-based and practice-led research.
Concluding these findings different Methodologies can be used for the creative research process. Depending on the particular subject of the research some Methodologies may be more suitable than others. For my research so far I have often used Case Studies, Participative Enquiries and Grounded Theories which are all part of the Phenomenological Methodologies, which may be due to my particular field of research often based on individual photographic works. The positivistic studies fro me seem more appropriate for broader creative subjects (Surveys, Cross-sectional studies) or very narrow fields of expertise (experimental & longitudinal studies).
Bibliography:
Graphic: Smith, H. & Dean, R.(2009) Model of Practice- Led and Research- led Practice. Practice-led Research, Research-led Practice in the Creative Arts.
Skains L,(2017) Creative Practice as Research: Practice-Based Research Available at: http://scalar.usc.edu/works/creative-practice-research/what-is-pbr?path=practitioner-model [Accessed on 28 March 2019]
Skains, L. (2016)The Practice of Research: A Methodology for Practice-Based Research in the Arts. School of Creative Studies and Media. Bangor University Presentation 12 Feb 2016. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1xQ0eMxZJU [Accessed on 28 March 2019]
Smith, H. & Dean, R. (2009) Practice-led Research, Research-led Practice in the Creative Arts. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
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