Research Archive
Thriving Minds Planning Research for Spring 2006
Read the component parts below, or check out the Research Synthesis.
Demand for Arts Learning
Parent Survey - A total of 1,347 parents and guardians of school-age children who live in the City of Dallas completed the survey. Overall, results indicate a high level of parent interest in their children’s arts education and arts activities.
Parent Interviews - Forty-five parents representing a cross-section of mostly Hispanic and African-American families with children in the Dallas public schools were interviewed regarding how they think about and experience arts education.
Teacher Survey - A total of 2,435 Dallas Independent School District (DISD) teachers completed this on-line survey. While interest in an arts learning survey would be expected of teachers specializing in arts education, 92% of the teachers completing the survey are content specialists in areas other than art.
Student Interviews - This research component was designed to gather qualitative data from a small group of middle school students who have managed to be successful in making the arts a central part of their education. Interviews were designed to find out what these students had to say about how they became interested in the arts, how they stayed engaged, and what obstacles and gaps they faced.
Community Leadership Interviews - The researchers conducted 23 telephone interviews with individuals identified by Big Thought with the intention of reaching a cross-section of civic and cultural leaders as well as educators. The purpose of the interviews was to gather qualitative data about how the City views itself and where arts education fits into the future vision for Dallas.
Supply of Arts Learning School Survey & Community and Cultural Institution Survey - This strand of research was intended to provide a basic inventory of existing arts learning resources both in school and out of school.