Quantitative / Mixed Methods

This research track equips future arts leaders with advanced, data-literate skills to investigate the complex dynamics of the contemporary creative sectors. It focuses on applying quantitative and mixed-methods research to pressing academic and practical challenges within arts management and cultural policy. Students will master a relevant methodology of their choice—including data-driven mapping of cultural ecosystems, computational content analysis of audience sentiment or media discourse, and digital ethnography within online creative communities—to generate actionable intelligence.

The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between empirical data and strategic insight. Students learn to design robust studies that, for instance, combine a quantitative mapping of creative industry clusters with a qualitative analysis of the digital networks that sustain them. This mixed-methods approach is essential for tasks ranging from evaluating the economic impact of cultural festivals and analyzing digital audience engagement to informing evidence-based cultural policy and strategic planning for arts organizations.

This track empowers students to become critical interpreters of the creative economies. By grounding data analysis in the practical realities of the cultural sector, graduates will be prepared to produce sophisticated research that not only contributes to academic discourse but also directly addresses real-world challenges, driving innovation and sustainability within the global arts landscape.

• Research Design: Formulate a significant research inquiry by articulating a clear question and designing a rigorous mixed-methods research plan that justifies the integration of quantitative and mixed approaches.

• Methodological Integration: Select and appropriately combine advanced research methodologies, such as data mapping, content analysis, and digital ethnography, to investigate complex issues in the creative sector.

• Data Sourcing & Interrogation: Identify, aggregate, and critically assess the validity and limitations of secondary data from key sources, including public datasets, government reports, and industry repositories relevant to the cultural sector.

• Critical Synthesis: Critically analyze and synthesize insights from both academic scholarship and empirical gray literature (e.g., policy documents, industry reports) to situate research within broader scholarly and professional conversations.

• Ethical & Reflexive Practice: Navigate international ethical standards for research and critically reflect on one's own positionality and the inherent biases in both quantitative data and qualitative interpretation.

• Strategic Communication: Effectively communicate complex research findings and their strategic value to diverse stakeholders, including academics, policymakers, and arts organizations, through advanced writing and presentation.

This track offers two distinct pathways for the final research output, catering to both academic and professional ambitions.

The first is a traditional academic dissertation of 6,000-8,000 words. This option is designed for students pursuing further academic study, requiring a rigorous, original contribution to scholarship that demonstrates mastery of mixed-methods research within the 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.

The second is an applied research project, developed in collaboration with key international or Singaporean industry partners to address a specific organizational or sectoral challenge. Such an output could be a professional strategy, data-driven mapping, or practical solution, accompanied by a 4,000-word exegesis. The exegesis is a critical document that situates the practical work within a research context, that includes

• Research Rationale: The specific sectoral problem and the knowledge gap that necessitates a mixed-methods approach. It situates the inquiry within relevant academic and industry literature to establish its significance and novelty.

• Methodological Justification: A clear defense of the selected quantitative/ mixed-methods approach, explaining the logic of combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. It also details the specific data sources and tools used, while critically acknowledging the limitations of the chosen approach.

• Critical Analysis: This core component demonstrates how the different data streams were integrated, showing where they converged or complemented each other. It moves beyond description to offer a synthesized interpretation of what the combined findings reveal about the research problem.

• Reflexive Account: Documenting your critical self-awareness regarding how your positionality may have influenced data interpretation across both methodological strands. It also confirms adherence to ethical standards in data handling and digital fieldwork.

• Value Proposition: The project's direct, actionable value for industry practitioners and its contribution to methodological innovation in arts management research. It defines the project's dual impact on both professional practice and academic discourse.