Dissertation
Beyond_words: making meaning of transitioning to motherhood using montage portraiture : an arts-based research study
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Mar 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-7251
Abstract
The purpose of this arts-based research (ABR) study was to conduct a systematic in depth exploration of how first time mothers express and make meaning of what is beyond_words in their experiences of transitioning to motherhood. Beyond_words for the purpose of this study was conceptualized as sensory-embodied, relational, and imaginal experiences that are difficult to articulate. The research question that this study aimed to answer was twofold: 1) How do first-time mothers express and make meaning of their beyond_words experiences, and 2) how are these experiences represented using montage portraiture? The participants in this study were five first-time mothers in their 30s who represent a homogenous sample of middle class, predominantly Caucasian, heterosexual, highly educated women who have stable partners and homes. In order to honor and capture the emergent, vital, and multi-dimensional nature of beyond_words in transitioning to motherhood, ABR was used as a design of this study. Montage portraiture was the data generation and analysis method that was specifically designed for this arts-based research study. The arts were used throughout the study to both by the participants as well as the researcher to systematically investigate the phenomena under study. The multiphasic data analysis in the first phase included conducting qualitative content analysis that produced the categories and subcategories relative to sensory-embodied, relational, and imaginal experiences. However, due to the epistemological nature of the beyond_words phenomena, they cannot be reduced to categories nor authentically described using discursive language. Therefore, the second phase of data analysis and representation included the Portrait Synthesis that portrayed each of the participants and her experiences holistically. To further analyze the data across cases, the Final Synthesis was conducted. The results were presented to an audience of viewers who authenticated the results. The Portrait Syntheses and Final Synthesis can stand alone as works of art and be presented to audiences outside of the academia in order to holistically communicate the multidimensional nature of beyond_words experiences in transitioning to motherhood.
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Details
- Title
- Beyond_words
- Creators
- Victoria Scotti - DU
- Contributors
- Nancy E. Gerber (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Creative Arts Therapies; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 7251; 991014632414604721