@article{intel:/content/journals/10.1386/jaac.3.2.167_1, author = "Uggerhøj, Lars", title = "Creative research approaches", journal= "Journal of Arts & Communities", year = "2011", volume = "3", number = "2", pages = "167-176", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1386/jaac.3.2.167_1", url = "https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/jaac.3.2.167_1", publisher = "Intellect", issn = "1757-1944", type = "Journal Article", keywords = "science wars", keywords = "social work research", keywords = "evidence-based science", keywords = "Forum Theatre in data collection", keywords = "restrained imagination", keywords = "participatory research processes", keywords = "science of the concrete", abstract = "ABSTRACT The article explores the possibility of developing and using creative research approaches and methods in social work research. The article starts by introducing the opposing positions in the on-going science wars between evidence-based and non-evidence-based approaches. It argues that if research is to understand and capture the complexity of social problems and social work, more effort must be devoted to developing qualitative studies – especially at a time when evidence-based approaches hold such a strong position. Research also needs to focus much more on creative tools. The article suggests Forum Theatre as a good participatory method as it allows a more power-sharing and open dialogue between researchers and informants, and it presents an example of Forum Theatre used in a research process. The article ends with a comparison of creative social work research approaches to what has been characterized as the science of the concrete: a context-dependent science, oriented more towards subjects than objects, and in which judgements and decisions are based on values.", }