University of Northern Colorado Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC Dissertations Student Research 8-2017 Increasing Reflexivity in Service Learning Through Arts Based Research Lindsay A. Beddes Follow this and additional works at: https://digscholarship.unco.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Beddes, Lindsay A., "Increasing Reflexivity in Service Learning Through Arts Based Research" (2017). Dissertations. 450. https://digscholarship.unco.edu/dissertations/450 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © 2017 LINDSAY A. BEDDES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO Greeley, Colorado The Graduate School INCREASING REFLEXIVITY IN SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH ARTS BASED RESEARCH A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Lindsay A. Beddes College of Education and Behavioral Sciences School of Psychological Sciences Program of Educational Psychology August 2017 This Dissertation by: Lindsay A. Beddes Entitled: Increasing Reflexivity in Service Learning through Arts Based Research has been approved as meeting the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in College of Education and Behavioral Sciences in School of Psychological Sciences, Program of Educational Psychology Accepted by the Doctoral Committee ______________________________________________________ Kathryn F. Cochran, Ph.D., Research Advisor ______________________________________________________ Molly M. Jameson, Ph.D., Committee Member _______________________________________________________ Connie K. Stewart, Ph.D., Committee Member _______________________________________________________ Maria K. E. Lahman, Ph.D., Faculty Representative Date of Dissertation Defense: June 1, 2017 Accepted by the Graduate School _____________________________________________________ Linda L. Black, Ed.D. Associate Provost and Dean Graduate School and International Admissions ABSTRACT Beddes, Lindsay A. Increasing Reflexivity in ServiceLearning through Arts Based Research. Published Doctor of Philosophy dissertation, University of Northern Colorado, 2017. The purpose of this study was to understand the processes of learning and meaning making that occur when people participate in long-term service learning programs. Service learning is a broad term that is used in many contexts and has a variety of meanings. The meaning used in this research is broad and includes include individuals not currently enrolled in college. Many researchers have noted the importance of reflection for learning through service, but the literature has a paucity of research on reflexivity. Addressing these gaps in the literature, this dissertation focused on the development of participants’ epistemological approaches to service through reflexive arts based research. The theoretical framework undergirding this research is critical feminism an emancipatory theory that emphasizes social justice and advocates for equity in research, especially for non-traditional ways of knowing and alternative approaches to academic inquiry. The methodology is bricolage, inspired in large part by portraiture and the mosaic approach. The five female participants in this study came from disparate backgrounds and service experiences; three undergraduate students, one recent PhD, and one retired probation officer. Through sharing their experiences with service, this study provides a iii look into the common elements of learning through service, the potential for personal transformation through arts based reflexive practice, and the methodological considerations for using arts based reflexive inquiry in educational research were addressed. Arts based research is the use of aesthetic representation in any step of the research process, from data collection to analysis to presentation of findings. Art was used in all phases of data collection and analysis. Data were collected through: Arts Based Reflexive Inquiry (ABRI) sessions, where participants created a work of art about their service; observation during ABRI sessions, and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis took the form of an ongoing, dialectical process for coding inspired by the constant comparative method, but reliant on art as the primary lens for analyzing the data. Findings are presented as both written and visual portraits of participants, and a free gallery open to the public where community members could view the original works created for this research. Findings include the common elements of the diverse service experiences, including the creation of a positive feedback loop leading to increased future engagement, and a deepened understanding of a social problem. Participants also indicated notable personal transformations, especially in terms of identity development. This study closes by addressing the methodological considerations of using ABRI in Educational Psychology research. Aesthetic methods are becoming more prominent and accepted within educational psychology research, but are limited to the inquiry phase and do not extend into data analysis or representation. This research addresses the aesthetic narrative reconstruction that participants undergo as they deepen their iv understanding of their personal epistemology through engaging in ABRI. Implications for future practice include the need for service learning practitioners to provide a safe space for volunteers to continually remake, refine, and define their personal epistemologies through deepened self-understanding. One way to achieve this end is through ABRI. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................1 Rationale for the Study ..................................................................................2 Statement of the Problem ...............................................................................3 Research Questions ........................................................................................6 Assumptions ...................................................................................................6 Expected Significance ....................................................................................7 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................7 Summary ........................................................................................................9 CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ...........................................................10 Introduction ....................................................................................................10 Service Learning ............................................................................................10 Arts Based Research ......................................................................................30 Summary ........................................................................................................32 CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY ...........................................................................33 Research Questions ........................................................................................34 Introduction and Personal Research Stance ...................................................34 Theory and Epistemology ..............................................................................44 Methodologies ................................................................................................47 Ethical Considerations ...................................................................................58 Procedures & Data Collection .......................................................................63 CHAPTER IV. PARTICIPANT PORTRAITS .........................................................73 Jessica’s Portrait .............................................................................................73 Emily’s Portrait ..............................................................................................92 Berna’s Portrait ..............................................................................................110 Addy and Steph ..............................................................................................127 Addy’s Portrait ...............................................................................................127 Steph’s Portrait ...............................................................................................143 Summary ........................................................................................................156 vi CHAPTER V. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ..............................................159 Research Questions ........................................................................................159 Conclusion .....................................................................................................175 REFERENCES ..........................................................................................................177 APPENDIX A. INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL .....................189 APPENDIX B. INFORMED CONSENT FOR PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH .......................................................................................192