TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of arts participation on children’s achievement
T2 - A systematic literature review
AU - Jindal-Snape, Divya
AU - Davies, Dan
AU - Scott, Rosalind
AU - Robb, Anna
AU - Murray, Christopher
AU - Harkins, Christopher
PY - 2018/9
Y1 - 2018/9
N2 - This paper reports on a systematic literature review to examine the association between children and young people’s participation in arts activities and their academic achievement. The 24 studies that met our criteria for inclusion and weight of evidence (2004-16) had mixed findings. Whilst many of the research designs employed would not meet positivist criteria for rigour – such as sample size, statistical significance and causality – typically required by public bodies to justify expenditure, there are examples throughout the literature reviewed of academically-related benefits to participants, such as increased confidence, creativity or more positive attitude towards their studies. Overall, there appears to be some justification from the literature for public investment in high-quality, long-term arts education programmes for children and young people in schools and community settings, on the basis of its potential to enhance academic achievement. However, there may be more intrinsic benefits to arts participation than the instrumental, essentially economic justification of improved academic standards.
AB - This paper reports on a systematic literature review to examine the association between children and young people’s participation in arts activities and their academic achievement. The 24 studies that met our criteria for inclusion and weight of evidence (2004-16) had mixed findings. Whilst many of the research designs employed would not meet positivist criteria for rigour – such as sample size, statistical significance and causality – typically required by public bodies to justify expenditure, there are examples throughout the literature reviewed of academically-related benefits to participants, such as increased confidence, creativity or more positive attitude towards their studies. Overall, there appears to be some justification from the literature for public investment in high-quality, long-term arts education programmes for children and young people in schools and community settings, on the basis of its potential to enhance academic achievement. However, there may be more intrinsic benefits to arts participation than the instrumental, essentially economic justification of improved academic standards.
KW - Achievement
KW - Art
KW - Community
KW - Impact
KW - Nursery
KW - Participation
KW - Primary school
KW - Secondary school
KW - Systematic literature review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049312911&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tsc.2018.06.003
DO - 10.1016/j.tsc.2018.06.003
M3 - Article
SN - 1871-1871
VL - 29
SP - 59
EP - 70
JO - Thinking Skills and Creativity
JF - Thinking Skills and Creativity
ER -