Music Therapy with Children and Parents: The Dynamics of Expertise v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Music Therapy with Children and Parents in a Child Development Service: A Qualitative Study of the Dynamics of Expertise.
IRAS ID
187513
Contact name
Claire Flower
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nordoff-Robbins
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
not yet available, BAMT ROSREP (British Association for Music Therapy: Register of Surveys, Research, and Evaluation Projects); to be confirmed, NHS Trust R and D Dept
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 18 days
Research summary
This qualitative study investigates music therapy practice with children with parents present. A preliminary single case study suggested that clinical practice involving the trio of child, parent, and therapist emerges from a dynamic, permeable network of roles, relationships, and practices. This study seeks to extend these preliminary findings, broadening the investigation to consider how music therapy practice and discourse is shaped by, and within, the NHS Child Development Service (CDS) within which it occurs. A particular focus of the study is an exploration of notions of expertise within music therapy practice involving parents: what are the forms of expertise through which practice occurs, how is expertise enacted, and by whom, and how is the sharing of expertise negotiated? The research combines phenomenological and pragmatic approaches, investigating existing practice in order to understand the complexities of parental involvement in improvisatory music therapy.
The study utilises multiple focus groups over a period of months as the main method of data collection, recruiting separate groups of parents, music therapists, and NHS staff. Participants will be asked to complete brief question sheets prior to the groups, these areas being explored through group discussion. Extracts of music therapy video will also be viewed in the groups as further prompts for discussion. Data will be audio recorded, transcribed and analysed, ultimately forming the basis for the PhD thesis.
The intention is to complete a rigorous, original study which can contribute to theory-building and developing practice within music therapy and more widely.
REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1890
Date of REC Opinion
27 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion