%0 Journal Article %A Uggerhøj, Lars %T Creative research approaches %D 2011 %J Journal of Arts & Communities, %V 3 %N 2 %P 167-176 %@ 1757-1944 %R https://doi.org/10.1386/jaac.3.2.167_1 %K science wars %K social work research %K evidence-based science %K Forum Theatre in data collection %K restrained imagination %K participatory research processes %K science of the concrete %I Intellect, %X 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. %U https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/jaac.3.2.167_1