Critical reflections on methodological challenge in arts and dementia evaluation and research. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gray, Karen; Evans, Simon Chester; Griffiths, Amanda; Schneider, Justine
• Other Names: Camic Paul M. guest-editor.; Zeilig Hannah guest-editor.; Crutch Sebastian J. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Dementia. Volume 17:Number 6(2018)
• Page Start: 775
• Page End: 784
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: arts -- evaluation -- methodology -- methodological challenges -- epistemology -- methods -- complexity; Psychiatric social work -- Periodicals; Social work with older people -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; 362.19683005
• DOI: 10.1177/1471301217734478
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-3012

Abstract

Methodological rigour, or its absence, is often a focus of concern for the emerging field of evaluation and research around arts and dementia. However, this paper suggests that critical attention should also be paid to the way in which individual perceptions, hidden assumptions and underlying social and political structures influence methodological work in the field. Such attention will be particularly important for addressing methodological challenges relating to contextual variability, ethics, value judgement and signification identified through a literature review on this topic. Understanding how, where and when evaluators and researchers experience such challenges may help to identify fruitful approaches for future evaluation.