[Adta] Research action ready to be taken!

Mon Feb 19 14:19:57 EST 2007

Thanks Heather for reminding us again about the breadth of research
options besides evidence based research. I always try to keep a broad
perspective of what research is, and keep everyone involved and valued,
regardless of their approach. Research methods go in and out of favor
with researchers, funding agents, schools, etc. and people respond at
times with panic that the profession is not going to survive without a
particular kind of research results, and I try to relax when I hear
that, as I think it does not result in action.  

What is so exciting right now, is that there seems to be a critical mass
of energy, interest AND ability to do research in our field at this
time. That's what I want to respond to and encourage. 

Lenore W. Hervey, Ph.D., ADTR, NCC, REAT

Dance/Movement Therapy & Counseling Dept.

Columbia College Chicago

600 S. Michigan Ave.

Chicago, IL 60605

312-344-8548

________________________________

From: Heather Hill [mailto:heatherhill at hotkey.net.au] 
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 12:34 AM
To: Hervey, Lenore; Adta at adta.org
Subject: Re: [Adta] Research action ready to be taken!

Dear all,

It's good to see these issues being put out there.  Lenore, I think you
have offered great and very practical suggestions.  As I think Beth
said, there are studies available already, and what is needed is for
these to be known about, first and most importantly by the dance therapy
community itself, and then to be used in whatever ways serve the
furthering of the work of DMT.  So let's see what we have
already...that's the place to start.

I'd like to highlight the importance of student research, for among
these are often the "pilot" studies, the experimenting with different
methodologies.  As I suggested some time ago, having them digitally
published is useful, since the links can easily be sent to colleagues,
or even having some theses put on the ADTA website (I'm not sure how
these would be selected).  Perhaps student research abstracts could be
featured in the journal or newsletter.  I also think that those who are
teaching can also pick up on interesting and exceptional theses and
encourage students to submit the abstract, or write an article.  One of
my creative arts therapies students here in Australia, through my
mediation, had an article published in a British aged care journal on
her experience in a nursing home.  It was a great learning thing for
her, and indeed very affirming of what she already knew.  I also felt
that it provided insights to the people (mainly social workers, care
workers, aged care policy people etc.) who read that journal and who
knew nothing of dance therapy. 

An excellent idea too about having various scales, measurement tools,
etc. collected.  I remember painfully trying to find relevant scales for
movement observation when I did an early research piece.  It would have
been good to just be able to go to a website.  

And further - to betray my own preferences - I'd like to see us look
beyond the concept of "measurement" - and look to the vast array of
qualitative and artistic methodologies available.  These also represent
"real" research....and by now have a long history in research practice.
In our dance therapy practice, we believe that knowing, understanding
etc can come through movement (and other arts) - yet why, when it comes
to research, do we feel there is only one way of knowing ?

Just to revisit briefly the thing about evidence-based practice and the
point I made about what constitutes evidence.  Recently a colleague of
mine doing her PhD on psycho-social interventions in dementia came
across a review article on this subject (Verkaik, van Weert, Francke,
2005 - The effects of psychosocial methods on depressed, aggressive and
apathetic behaviors of people with dementia: a systematic review.  In
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Vol.20, pp 301-314).  Out
of 177 studies, they excluded all but 19 studies as being of
insufficient quality.  Quality appeared to be defined in terms of
criteria appropriate to "natural sciences" (positivist) research.  Their
conclusion was that while there was some variation in results, overall
evidence for the effectiveness of psycho-social interventions is "quite
modest".    I find this conclusion quite astounding and hard to believe.
(There was much else to criticise in this article, but I will contain
myself !) This I guess is what I was trying to say in my previous email
in regards to who defines "evidence".

On the other side of the "evidence-based practice" picture is the
example of how psychotropic drugs are still routinely used with people
with dementia DESPITE evidence that they are not particularly helpful
and indeed often aggravate or even create disturbed behaviour.  People
will continue to practice what they practice if convention and custom
(in this instance, the use of medication) support it.

Anyway, again - great ideas, Lenore.  As the others have said, having
access to such information is good for promoting the profession.  It
also can enhance our own understanding of the work and improve how we
work with our clients.  I found that having done research into my
practice, I felt a lot more confident in articulating what I did to
others.  From my experience, it is the ability to articulate to other
non-dance therapy colleagues and the fostering of relationship with
them, plus doing a good job, which is the ultimate proof of the value of
the work.

Thanks to all for picking up on this topic - an ongoing one, I'm sure.

Kind regards,

Heather

----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Hervey, Lenore <mailto:lhervey at colum.edu>  

	To: Adta at adta.org 

	Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 10:13 AM

	Subject: [Adta] Research action ready to be taken!

	Dear colleagues,

	I'm so happy that this conversation is happening, and that so
many people are passionate about it. From my experience on the Research
Subcommittee, and from suggestions made here, I think we might be ready
to take some action in a few of very realistic ways.

	First, as some of you may know, there are two comprehensive
bibliographies posted on the Research pages of the ADTA website.
(http://www.adta.org/resources/research.cfm) They are on DMT with
children and DMT with the elderly. They include theses, books, articles,
chapters, videos and even some conference procedings. Though they both
need updating (I think they were done in 2002), they are helpful to
those wishing to do research in either of those fields, by saving a lot
of leg work searching for the sources for a lit review.  

	If there were similar comprehensive bibliographies on other
populations, just think how helpful that would be to those who wish to
do research and publish it! We are badly in need of bibliographies on
trauma and eating disorders. I believe that there are probably many at
least partial bibliographies our there already done, and if they were
compiled, they could be posted on the website too.

	The specialists in various DMT fields of practice probably know
what the most recent studies are in that field.  If we could get one
person from each specialty to serve as collector, that person could
compile all the smaller bibliographies that others sent them (thesis
students are a wealth of knowledge in this area) and we could post them
with the other two. Someone on the Research Subcommittee could help put
it inot APA format.

	The specialist, with the help of the Research Subcommittee,
could discern which articles might best be included in a short list of
4-6 of the best, most useful, most evidence-based studies to use in the
ways that have been identified by others in earlier emails - for PR,
marketing, job development, grants, etc.

	Second, I think it would be so helpful to have a section on the
Research webpages that listed measurement tools that DMTs have used
successfully, with brief descriptions of how they are used (for instance
can a DMT use them or must a psychologist) how much they cost and where
to get a hold of them.. We would need a volunteer to be the soliciter
and compiler of that list as well. Beth's wonderful tool, (the BRIAAC I
think it was called) and Ilene Serlin's new tool are examples of
measures developed by dance/movement therapists, but there are other DMT
friendly measures as well. 

	Please, if there are people who would be willing to be actively
involved in either of these efforts, please let me know, and we'll get
right on it!!!

	Lenore Hervey

	Chair, Research Subcommittee, ADTA

	312-344-8548

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