'Through the drawings…they are able to tell you straight’ : using arts-based methods in violence research in South Africa

Arts-based methods are underutilized in violence research and may offer improved means of understanding these phenomena; but little is known about their value, especially in low-resource settings. A pilot study using a cross sectional sample was conducted in rural South Africa to determine the feasibility and acceptability of using arts-based methods in research with adults and children, in preparation for a longitudinal multigenerational cohort study on mechanisms that underly the intergenerational transmission of violence. Four arts-based methods were piloted with young adults aged 22-30 years (n=29), children aged 4-7 years (n=21) and former caregivers of the young adults aged 40-69 years (n=11). A sample of qualitative interviews were audio recorded and transcribed (child n=15, adults n=19). Three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to understand implementation and lessons learnt with the six interviewers on the study team, none of whom had used these methods in research before. Interviews and FGDs were audio recorded, transcribed and reviewed by the investigative team. Using a rapid analytical approach, our pilot study demonstrated that using arts and play-based methods in multigenerational violence research is feasible and acceptable to participants and interviewers. These methods worked well for nearly all participants regardless of age or ability and offered a comfortable and ‘fun’ way to engage in weighty conversations. They presented benefits in their capability to facilitate disclosure, expanding understanding, particularly around violence that is often a stigmatizing and sensitive experience. Interviewers required increased capacity and sensitivity in using the methods carefully, to maximize their full potential, and ongoing mentorship was indicated. Our study adds to the burgeoning evidence base of the effectiveness of the use of arts-based methods in health research. The dataset relates to the upcoming publication N. Woollett, N. Christofides, H. Franchino-Olsen, M. Silima, A. Fouche, F. Meinck (in submission). ‘Through the drawings…they are able to tell you straight’: using arts-based methods in violence research in South Africa.基于艺术的方法（arts-based methods）在暴力研究领域尚未得到充分利用，或可为理解此类暴力现象提供更优路径，但目前对其应用价值尚缺乏足够认知，尤其是在资源匮乏环境中。本研究在南非农村地区开展，采用横断面样本实施预实验，旨在评估基于艺术的方法应用于成人与儿童暴力研究的可行性与接受度，为后续一项针对暴力代际传递机制的纵向多世代队列研究奠定基础。本研究针对22-30岁青年群体（n=29）、4-7岁儿童群体（n=21）以及该青年群体的前照料者（40-69岁，n=11）试点了四种基于艺术的研究方法。部分质性访谈样本进行了录音与转写（儿童访谈n=15，成人访谈n=19）。研究团队的6名访谈员此前均未在研究中使用过此类方法，本研究针对他们开展了3次焦点小组讨论（focus group discussions, FGDs），以了解方法的实施情况与经验教训。所有访谈与焦点小组讨论均进行录音、转写，并由研究团队审核。本预实验采用快速分析方法，结果显示，在多世代暴力研究中应用基于艺术与游戏的方法，无论参与者年龄与能力水平如何，均具备可行性且能获得参与者与访谈员的认可。此类方法能够有效促进受访者披露信息，加深对暴力问题的理解——而暴力往往是带有污名化与敏感性的经历。访谈员则需要提升自身能力与敏感度，谨慎使用此类方法以充分发挥其效用，同时研究表明需为其提供持续的督导支持。本研究为日益增长的健康研究领域基于艺术方法有效性的证据库增添了新的实证支持。本数据集关联于即将发表的论文：N. Woollett、N. Christofides、H. Franchino-Olsen、M. Silima、A. Fouche、F. Meinck（已投稿）：'Through the drawings…they are able to tell you straight': using arts-based methods in violence research in South Africa。