Arts-based and embodied research reporting

Abstract

The distinction between arts-based and embodied is an artificial one because arts practices are embodied practices (Ellingson 2017: 31). In the first edition of this book, this chapter (at that time combined with the next) was called ‘Writing for research’. The new title reflects the development of methods for reporting on research, such that writing is no longer the only option, although it remains the primary choice for most researchers. This chapter focuses primarily on writing, with other reporting methods such as blogs and video covered in Chapter 11. Here we consider research writing skills and the role of arts-based writing such as fiction and poetry in research reporting. As with the other arts, writing and reading are embodied practices, requiring the use of limbs, eyes, brain and emotions – and therefore the whole of our bodies. When you reach the reporting stage, you develop a new set of responsibilities: to your potential readers, as well as to participants, researchers whose work you are building on and all the others who hold a stake in your research. For your audience(s), you need to report well and clearly so as to help them understand your work as easily as possible. You need to do justice to your participants by ensuring that you represent your data accurately and interpret your findings fairly. And you need to be fair to researchers whose work you build on, by citing their work correctly and not plagiarising it (Löfström 2011: 263). There are many ethical decisions to be made in reporting research.