Methodological Practices in Research on Arts-Based Programs in International Development: A Systematic Review

International development initiatives increasingly use programmes involving arts participation to facilitate desired outcomes, such as improved psycho-social wellbeing and conflict resolution. Research into the effectiveness of these interventions has increased commensurately. However, this research has not necessarily been of high quality. This article reports a systematic review of 67 studies of arts-based international development initiatives, to examine the research methods used and the quality of their application. Methodological strength and integrity were analysed against criteria important for research quality in this field, including use of participatory methods, clarity of research question, methodological rigour and system, supportable claims of causal links and supportable generalisations. The findings indicate that only one-third of studies employed robust methods. Challenges include inappropriate selection of research methods to match stated research questions, lack of adequate reporting of data to allow readers to assess the validity of claims, and overly strong claims made with insufficient support.