published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This qualitative study utilizes the scholarly fields of art, critical pedagogy, adolescent development and research into the British Columbia juvenile justice system's governance and policies surrounding youth in care, in order to highlight art education in an alternate setting-a youth custody centre. Since arts-based programs for incarcerated teens exist in British Columbia, Canada, this study evaluates their efficacy as more than a pastime. There is currently a lack of scholarly research on Canadian youth living in correctional facilities, in particular research on the adolescent culture that exists inside the fence and locked doors. This study examines their lives and talents and draws attention to teens affected by crime and violence. Visual culture is an integral part of everyday lives and identities. Some forms of knowledge are more accessible while others are solely accessible through non-verbal means. This study utilizes visual art as a research tool to examine the potential of art programming to provide a safe place for experimentation and personal expression and the imponance of implementing sustainable community-based educational initiatives to support successful reintegration to society. I compare two programs: a traditional craft program and a progressive collaborative onc. Observational and interview data, action research and visual analysis provided insight to the adolescent sub-culture that exists within the prison setting, and reveals the potential of creative expression by the youthful inmates. The findings of this study provide information about edllcation and 'rehabilitation', specifically, the potential of an programs in non-traditional sites to aid in increasing self-esteem, emotional well-being and personal development. This was accomplished by engaging the youth in pro-social collaborative activities that utilize peer education and youth-driven initiatives. / Graduate

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Psychotherapeutic interventions have been used to support people with cancer for more than half a century, with continuing debate as to whether there is any impact on the disease process itself. Very few of those studies have assessed physiological impact, and although art psychotherapyi has been employed to assess and enhance change in quality of life, reduction in distress and increased treatment compliance amongst adults and children with cancer, in the main these studies have been qualitative. To date few studies have been published reporting the use of art psychotherapy in the exploration of the human being from a systems perspective, using both biological and psychosocial means of assessment of efficacy, and at the time of research, none reporting immunological changes. The advantage of art psychotherapy over purely verbal psychotherapy is in the readily accessed unconscious content, and that a relaxed meditative state is entered in making images: it gives the body voice while creating a concrete record of the process. This study, therefore, addresses a gap in both psychoneuroimmunological and psycho-oncology research. The objective was to assess if engaging in group art psychotherapy would have a positive effect on general quality of life with a reduction of ‘stress’ and if this would be reflected in immunological, psychosocial, image and narrative data. The specific parameters under investigation were salivary immunoglobulin isotype A (S-IgA), salivary interferon gamma (SIFN- γ), delayed type hypersensitivity test response, psychosocial questionnaire results, images created during art psychotherapy and the narrative of that group process. The study utilised a mixed methods approach. The quantitative arm of the study was framed within the positivist paradigm required for the assessment of discrete physiological and psychosocial parameters, while the qualitative arm of the study was framed in the interpretive paradigm suited to the investigation of subjective experience. The dominant philosophy informing the methodology for the qualitative work was hermeneutic phenomenology. Analysis of salivary immunoglobulin alpha (S-IgA) results indicated that there was a general upwards trend in the group mean post-vs-pre-session levels, positively correlating to sessional emotional tone. The salivary interferon gamma (S-IFN-γ) results showed no such increase, although there was a correlation to emotional content in individual sessions and an overall upward trend. There was an observable lessening of anxiety and improvement in interpersonal dynamics and participants’ self report over time, not reflected in the psychosocial questionnaire results. The study suggested that involvement in art psychotherapy does have a positive impact on immunological function, and has contributed to the understanding of a systems approach to healing, which may broaden understanding of the value of psychological support to people with cancer. This may be extrapolated to other chronic illnesses where immunological function must be optimised. The study has also demonstrated that it is possible to involve art psychotherapy in the scientific dialogue, without losing its integrity.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Regis University, Denver, Colo., 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Oct. 29, 2007). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A. in apparel, merchandising, design and textiles)--Washington State University, December 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Apr. 2, 2009). "Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles." Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-58).

Thesis (MHSc--Health Science) -- Auckland University of Technology, 2004. / Appendices not included in e-thesis. Also held in print (96 leaves, col. ill., 30 cm.) in Akoranga Theses Collection (T 616.891656 ALE)

Thesis (M. S.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Dr. Penelope Orr, Florida State University, School of Visual Arts and Dance, Dept. of Art Education. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 14, 2005). Document formatted into pages; contains x, 108 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Dave Gussak, Florida State University, College of Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance, Dept. of Art Education. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 8, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains x,151 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this research study was to determine whether or not adults experienced anxiety when given certain art materials in an art therapy session; and if the materials did cause anxiety for the participants, which materials caused more anxiety than the others. The study utilizes qualitative and quantitative data collections to answer the research questions. Past and present literature has been reviewed as well as previous studies to help guide the research process. The researcher conducted the study over the course of one month by conducting group sessions with 15 adult participants. The adults participated in three art sessions and were given a different art material in each session. These art materials were photographic materials, clay materials and drawing materials. At the end of each session the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that inquired about their levels of anxiety and comfort with the art process. The data from the study found no particular art material to be more anxiety provoking than the others; however, some materials were more comfortable or more difficult to use than the others. The results were found by utilizing the quantitative and qualitative data that was gathered from the materials questionnaires. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Summer Semester, 2009. / June 25, 2009. / Art Therapy, Adults, Anxiety, Clay, Photography, Drawing / Includes bibliographical references. / David Gussak, Professor Directing Thesis; Marcia Rosal, Committee Member; Tom Anderson, Committee Member.

Art therapy assessments are tools that provide mental health clinicians with diagnostic information about clients. This study explored the Person Picking an Apple from a Tree (PPAT) assessment (Gantt & Tabone, 1998). The PPAT assessment is a standardized drawing task that can be evaluated on 14 formal element scales to distinguish groups of clients with Axis-I diagnoses. The purpose of the research was to identify the characteristic formal element variables in PPAT drawings for a normative population. Previous research indicated that the PPAT tool needed to be strengthened by establishing baseline normative data (Gantt, 2001; Gantt & Tabone, 1998). PPAT norms have been collected on non-client populations; however, they were small samples and lacked diversity. In the current study, the PPAT assessment was administered to a sample (N = 100) of college students. The sample was matched to the U.S. Census of college students for gender and ethnicity. PPAT drawings were scored according to the Formal Element Art Therapy Scale (FEATS) Rating Manual. Inter-rater reliability was established on the assessment instrument for 13 of the 14 FEATS scales. The findings identified normative qualities that emerged in the formal element variables of non-client PPAT drawings. Some differences in gender, ethnicity, and artistic experience emerged on specific FEATS scales. The statistical results of the study determined a cluster of FEATS characteristics attributable to non-clients. Findings in this research study can assist clinicians with assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Furthermore, results can aid future research initiatives and contribute to knowledge in the field of art therapy. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Summer Semester, 2007. / June 29, 2007. / normative study, drawing assessment, Formal Element Art Therapy Scale, FEATS, person picking an apple from a tree, PPAT, art assessment, art therapy / Includes bibliographical references. / Marcia L. Rosal, Professor Directing Thesis; David E. Gussak, Committee Member; Penelope P. Orr, Committee Member.