Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

Interpretation, and accept the obligation to produce permanent Critique 46 . The basic
standards and requirements of the researcher are expressed in Bruscia’s analysis of
integrity (Bruscia 1998). Robson (2002, p. 508-11) presents excellent guidelines and a
checklist for qualitative research reports.
In this study I have chosen to report the findings of the quantitative and the qualitative
investigations separately and in different formats and styles. Chapter 5 follows the
main principles for reporting fixed design studies, as listed in Robson (2002, p. 505-
06). Chapter 6 and 8 are structured differently, corresponding to the nature of the
research questions (sub-questions 4-8) and the results. In the two case studies of
chapter 7 both qualitative and quantitative data and analyses are included. Problems
and advantages of using multiple methods are summarized and discussed in chapter
9 47 .
4.1.2 Ontological implications of using multiple methods.
The research paradigm and personal preferences of the researcher plays an important
role in all research (Robson 2002), also in music therapy research (Edwards 1999;
Ruud 1980, 1998; Ruud & Mahns 1991; Stige 2002). The stance of the present author
is that the validity of a music therapy research study will always be enhanced by
precise information on which music (experiences and/or interventions) was used how,
when and by whom in what context. The researcher’s ideas of music, the human
being, and the nature of reality should be stated explicitly in order to inform the reader
about the reasons and possible biases of their research approach. I am working on the
firm basis that in music therapy it makes sense to focus on musical experience as
based on different aspects or properties of music. Researching the music (whether as a
46 Stige’s proposal was based on the four elements of Reflexive metthodology, as presented by
Alvesson & Sköldberg (2000): 1) systematic techniques in research procedures, 2) clarification of the
primacy of interpretation, 3) awareness of the political-ideological character of the research, 4)
reflections in relation to the problem of representation and authority. The forum discussion included
Aldridge’s presentation of an ”Evaluation tool for qualitative studies”, and Stige revised his acronym to
include comments from both the forum and the Bergen symposium.
47 A specific epistemological issue is the importance of distinguishing between description, analysis
and interpretation of the phenomenon studied, in this case the influence of music on mood and life
quality of cancer patients. This issue will not be discussed here. In the essay Analyzing the Music it is
discussed in the section on Qualitative methodology, introducing Nattiez' semiological levels and his
concepts of trace, esthesic and poietic analysis. A more general treatment of the distinction can be
found in Chapter 1 of Creswell (1995).
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