This book presents the first comprehensive introduction to arts-based research (ABR) practices, which scholars in multiple disciplines are fruitfully using to reveal information and represent experiences that traditional methods cannot capture. Each of the six major ABR genres—narrative inquiry, poetry, music, performance, dance, and visual art—is covered in chapters that introduce key concepts and tools and present an exemplary research article by a leading ABR practitioner. Patricia Leavy discusses the kinds of research questions these innovative approaches can address and offers practical guidance for applying them in all phases of a research project, from design and data collection to analysis, interpretation, representation, and evaluation.

Ideal for courses in interpretive inquiry, narrative inquiry, qualitative methods, and research methods, the text includes useful pedagogical features for each ABR genre:

• Checklists of issues to consider when deciding how to use a particular method
• Discussion questions and activities that can be worked on in class or assigned
• Annotated lists of journals, websites, and recommended readings
• Explanations and examples that are relevant to diverse disciplines, including education, sociology, psychology, communications, health care, and fine arts