Our review of the CP archive showed a preponderance of case study research (Thomson, Coles, Hallewell, & Keane, 2014). Some of this used surveys, but almost all of it was interview (including focus group) and observation-based. There were a few studies which used attendance and pupil attainment data. We noted the absence of experimental design, longitudinal and cohort studies and arts based methods, as well as some issues arising from case studies ‘slicing through’ school ecologies. The subsequent TALE research (researchtale.net) attempted to move to a cohort based mixed methods case design – my use of the word attempt signals that we encountered some issues in doing so. I will discuss
both the CP archive review and the TALE research indicating where there are still significant methodological and methods gaps and the implications of these. I will also briefly point to issues around visual research in our own CP research and in TALE.
Thomson, P., Coles, R., Hallewell, M., & Keane, J. (2014). A critical review of the Creative Partnerships archive: how was cultural value understood, researched and evidenced? Swindon: Arts and Humanities Research Council.