Qualitative / Ethnographic Methods

This track provides a foundational exploration of qualitative and ethnographic research methods, situating them as essential tools for critical inquiry within the interdisciplinary field of Arts Management. Students will engage with the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of these approaches, understanding their unique value in dissecting the complex, human-centric issues that define the local and global cultural sector. The curriculum moves beyond a purely business-oriented perspective, embracing the field's inherent interdisciplinarity by drawing on sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies to analyze the nuanced social relationships, political dimensions, and cultural tensions inherent in artistic ecosystems.

The track offers hands-on training in key methodological techniques, including in-depth interviewing, focus groups, ethnographic observation, and document analysis. A core emphasis is placed on the ethics of research practice, ensuring students learn to maintain integrity, confidentiality, and reflexivity while critically evaluating the credibility and potential biases of qualitative data. Students will learn to design and execute robust research projects—from organizational case studies and audience perspectival analyses to ethnographic studies of heritage sites—that articulate cultural nuances and complexities.

This Track leads students to produce rigorous and insightful research that contributes meaningfully to both academic discourse and professional practice. By mastering these methods, students will be equipped to answer pressing research questions, inform strategic decision-making, and develop a highly coherent dissertation that addresses real-world challenges facing arts organizations and cultural policy today.

• Research Design: Formulate a compelling research inquiry by articulating a clear research question, selecting and justifying a rigorous qualitative methodology, and outlining a coherent research plan.

• Methodological Application: Demonstrate proficiency in core qualitative methods, including ethnographic observation, in-depth interviewing, and focus groups, while acknowledging and addressing their inherent limitations and biases.

• Data Synthesis: Critically analyze and synthesize insights from diverse empirical sources, including policy documents, gray literature, and academic scholarship from multiple epistemic traditions.

• Ethical Practice: Design a research project that complies with international ethical standards for research involving human subjects and successfully navigate the process for ethical approval.

• Critical Reflexivity: Critically reflect upon one's own positionality—including cultural, social, and epistemological standpoints—to identify and mitigate potential biases throughout the research process.

• Scholarly Argumentation: Develop a sophisticated, evidence-based argument that contributes to scholarly conversations and professional practice in the arts management field.

• Professional Communication: Effectively communicate research findings and their significance to both academic and professional audiences through advanced written and oral presentation.

The primary research output for this track is an independent academic dissertation of 6,000 to 8,000 words. This substantial piece of original research represents the culmination of the student's engagement with qualitative and ethnographic methodologies. It is designed explicitly for those aspiring to pursue further academic study or a research-intensive career, serving as a demonstrative proof of their ability to conduct rigorous, critical, and ethically sound scholarly inquiry.

Students will formulate their own research question, situate it within a gap in existing academic literature, and execute a tailored research design. The dissertation demands a sophisticated synthesis of empirical data and theoretical frameworks, culminating in a coherent argument that contributes new insights to the interdisciplinary field of arts management. The most outstanding dissertations will be selected for inclusion in the Programme's flagship Biennial Research Almanac, celebrating exemplary student work. Furthermore, students will be actively encouraged and mentored to present their findings at relevant academic conferences and to refine their work for submission to peer-reviewed journals, providing a vital first step into the world of academic publishing and discourse.

Published Almanacs:

• Grincheva, N. and Loh, M. (eds.) (2025). Inside Asian Creative Worlds: Digital Heritage, Industry Evolution, and Cultural Roots. LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore.
  ISBN 9789819433582, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17043881
• Grincheva, N. (ed.) (2023). The Future of Heritage. LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore.
  ISBN 9789811873737, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8074105