Research ethics

Chapter 3 of Performing Music Research explores the guiding principles on which ethical codes are based. These can be summarized as follows: people should not be harmed, nor their rights and dignity compromised, and research must be of scientific value and carried out with integrity. These issues must be considered and addressed in the earliest stages of research and in light of the potential benefits of the findings of the research to society. The chapter reflects on the philosophical underpinnings of ethical research and outlines the process whereby ethical approval is typically sought and obtained, with reference to a selection of codes of research ethics published by professional associations and regulatory bodies that guide and inform research activity.

Surveys

Chapter 7 of Performing Music Research describes the main features of surveys and discusses when it is appropriate to use them. It considers the key decisions that must be taken when designing a survey, when and how to choose a questionnaire that has already been validated, and how to adapt or construct a new questionnaire. It highlights different types of data, and the different types of questions that are available to researchers, including open and closed questions, rating and measurement scales, and ranking systems. The chapter outlines the overall structure of an effective questionnaire and discusses the relative advantages of paper-based (print) and electronic delivery. It also considers the pros and cons of surveys and describes how to report their results.

Inferential statistics

Chapter 13 of Performing Music Research outlines a range of statistical approaches designed to identify associations (or “relationships”) between variables. it starts with correlation and regression, which allow the nature and strength of the relationships between two or more variables to be quantified. Next, it considers approaches with specific applications: analyzing relationships between categorical variables; testing the reliability of questionnaires and raters; reducing a large number of variables to a smaller number of underlying factors; and understanding complex interactions within networks of variables. The chapter sets out examples of the situations in which each test can be used, provides guidance on conducting it using standard statistical software, and advises on how best to interpret and report its results.

Methodological approaches

Chapter 2 of Performing Music Research reviews three methodological approaches: qualitative, quantitative, and multistrategy. While all three approaches can be used to shed light on musical topics, qualitative approaches tend to elicit an understanding of individuals’ idiosyncratic perspectives and experiences, whereas quantitative approaches tend to focus on larger-scale, more generalizable explanations. The chapter considers the main features of these two approaches and addresses the increasing body of work combining qualitative and quantitative forms of enquiry in multistrategy research. It delves deeper into each of the three methodological approaches to illuminate some of the specific strategies associated with them, ranging from the ethnographic exploration of musical cultures to experimental studies testing the very latest innovations in the field.

Observations

Chapter 4 of Performing Music Research examines three different types of observation: (1) participant observation, in which the investigator has a dual role, acting as both participant and researcher, thereby placing value on the insights gained through an “insider” perspective on the phenomenon under observation; (2) semi-structured observational methods, typically used when a researcher wants to observe specific behaviors as more of an “outsider” but also wishes to retain an element of open-ended enquiry; and (3) quantitative, structured observational research, which relies on a more objective and detached observation of predetermined categories. Throughout, the chapter considers the advantages of each of these methods and the challenges they pose.

Experiments

Chapter 8 of Performing Music Research examines the experiment as a means of assessing new ideas and initiatives, producing evidence that can support crucial developments in the lives and education of musicians. It outlines several key types of experiment, defined by how people are divided into groups, what those groups do, and how those groups are compared; it also considers how experimental strategies can be used to examine changes in an individual over a period of time. The chapter discusses guidelines for the effective design and conduct of experiments. Finally, it describes how to document the method and how to achieve rigor and validity in experimental research.

Research questions

Chapter 1 of Performing Music Research considers how to develop effective research questions, outlining ways of formulating them so that they are clear and answerable. Different assumptions about the world underlie different research questions, which in turn seek different kinds of knowledge. Therefore, when designing research, it is essential to understand the nature of the knowledge that is to be generated. The chapter explores some of the ways in which this understanding can be framed in a study and shows how it feeds into and shapes the whole process of research design.

Documentation

Chapter 5 of Performing Music Research focuses on three different types of documents, beginning with pre-existing written, audio, and audiovisual documentation. First, the chapter gives examples of pre-existing documents, such as program notes, which can be used in studies as research data in their own right and as stimuli for research. Second, it considers documentation created specifically for research purposes. This includes recordings of music making, which are a rich source of information in music research, and diaries—whether written, audio, or audiovisual. Third, it considers drawings and other forms of visual representation. Throughout, the chapter highlights the possibilities of obtaining insights from documentary data by using newly developed technologies.

Inferential statistics

Chapter 12 of Performing Music Research considers statistical tests designed for use in experimental, survey, and observational research to compare differences between groups. It describes three kinds of test and their variations: t-tests, which are used to identify differences between two groups on one dependent variable; analyses of variance (ANOVAs), which are used to test effects by identifying differences between two or more groups on one dependent variable; and multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs), which are used to test effects by identifying differences between two or more groups on two or more dependent variables. For each test, the chapter sets out an example of the situations in which it can be used, provides guidance on conducting it using standard statistical software, and advises on how best to interpret and report its results.

Communication and dissemination

Chapter 14 of Performing Music Research presents the key features of the final written research report. It considers how to get started, the use of appropriate structure and headings, the importance of identifying limitations and further research, and referencing sources. Acknowledging that music researchers need to communicate in many ways, the chapter also introduces four further means of disseminating research: informal and formal feedback to participants; conference proceedings, which form the basis for spoken, poster, and speed presentations at conferences; peer-reviewed published journal articles; and communication with those outside the academic world such as practitioners and policy-makers. It discusses the use of broadcast, print, and social media, emphasizing the need to engage different target audiences creatively.