The Inter-Cultural Research Project has been developed by several UK based Art Therapists. Nathan Rendell is the Clinical Advisor and link with ATPRN. The project is being coordinated through the London Art Therapy Practice and is financially supported by the Art Therapy Trust (UK). The purpose of the Research Project is to develop a longitudinal study of the use of artefacts and creativity in health and treatment interventions in different countries, cultures and diverse communities in the area of mental health and to contrast traditional healing practices with the processes active in Art Therapy.

The purpose of the inter-cultural research project is to develop a longitudinal study of the use of artefacts and creativity in health and treatment interventions in different countries, cultures and ethnic communities

The project aims are as follows:

* To generate the sharing of practice and experience across cultures with the aim to increase theoretical developments within a key area of Art Therapy practice.

* To promote an inter-cultural exchange of social, psychological and arts based experience and expression of experience in the research population group.

*To exchange treatment and therapeutic modes of intervention in the field of adult mental health.

* To share and benefit from a mutual exchange of underpinning theory and approaches to evidence-based practice in the specific area of cultural diversity.

* To promote a cultural exchange through the publication of research outcomes and evaluation in related professional and research journals internationally.

The framework for the project involves the following:

* Literary research into country and culture for proposed research

* Establish links with health care providers and profile service area

* Seek formal links with research supervisor local setting

* Set up three research groups; A, B and C with a minimum number of 10 in each

* Collect data through interviews, questionnaires, observation, artefacts and self reflection

* Collation of data within the categories defined in appendix C of the Research toolkit using mapping, graphing and evaluation criteria and formats provided

Cross cultural benefits:

* The cross cultural benefits will derive from the increased knowledge and awareness of practice, approach and methods used in other cultures; these will include knowledge of culture, psychological models, treatment differences and the use of artefacts and ritual

* The benefits for the host culture will be in relation to the use of art as an effective treatment intervention within a psychological theoretical model. This may raise questions regarding the development of professional training and the provision of art therapy within health and social care services.

	Nitya Ramchandran, Robina Griffiths and Gary Nash are currently working together in Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, developing research links and running Art Therapy groups in education and mental health settings.

The research format for this project is Quantative; based on structured questionnaires; and Qualitative (interpretative); based on engagement, observation, self-reflection and experiential feedback from the field research process. The data collated will be in the form of Narrative research and will be analysed through a pre-set evaluation criteria.

Narrative research is a record of the subjective experiences of the individuals and groups involved in the research process. The data gathered will form a picture of diverse and individualised (subjective) experiences of art therapy interventions and cultural distinct perspectives.

Field research forms the core data collection process through a number of standardised methods:

* establish 3 research contact groups in a specific clinical category: A (hospital); B (community); C (control group) .

* A pre-set Cultural Context questionnaire (CCQ) is available in the Research Toolkit (appendix A) The MYMOP questionnaire (appendix B) will be used 3 times with each group: pre-group assessment; mid-group and evaluation

* Collation of data within the categories defined in appendix E of the Research Toolkit using mapping, graphing and evaluation criteria and formats provided

* The narrative data will contain case examples and artefacts; images; pictures; models and stories which will be used in the inter-cultural evaluation of the project. Permission will need to be sought at the outset of the project to enable their use in professional forums, discussions and presentations and any subsequent publication of related materials

*A research ethics committee form and a client consent form are included in appendix D of the toolkit.

The research project is driven by a central hypothesis relating to the inter-cultural effectiveness of art therapy interventions; however, the nature of the project is complex and rich in diversity. From this basis we will use the research methods as a way of learning about and exploring the personal, professional and client based responses and develop themes and indices during the initial research phase

The data which is collected will be as follows:

* The Cultural Context questionnaire will analyse the cultural norms in relation to communication and expression through artefacts and ritual; psychological models and treatment theory and approach. As key criteria they will be indexed and cross-referenced with qualitative data..

* The client-centred MYMOP questionnaire will track the personal experiences of clients who are involved in the contact group research; this data will be specific in terms of the subject experience of treatment, self-specified symptoms and resulting change.

* Observation, narratives, self-reflection and case studies will generate criteria and themes which will link in with pre-established categories and will be indexed throughout.

* Comparative data: it is necessary to cross-reference the qualitative data with the quantative data to ensure linking of themes and categories and provide a consistent research base:

The MYMOP tracking questionnaire will be used across the same group three times and will also be used against three different groups concurrently

The categories and themes which develop over the course of the research period will form the basis of key research indices; all qualitative and reflective data will be cross-referenced with these indices in order to build a coherent picture of context and client-centred experience along with the researcher’s personal and self reflections

The inter-cultural benefits of art therapy will be tracked throughout the research process and will feature in the following areas:

* The theoretical approaches to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and therapeutic outcome

* The psychological models and underpinning theories which inform practice

* The applicability, usefulness and outcomes of using art as a treatment intervention

* The understanding, acceptance and cultural relevance of using art as a therapeutic treatment method.

In order to carry out clinical research it is necessary to seek approval for the project from the relevant research ethics committee which will be either in the health or social care organisations in which the project is to be set.

In terms of confidentiality; all research material will be logged and filed for future referencing. All parties will need to sign a consent form which will enable the use of all material, transcripts, questionnaires and artefacts (images and pictures) to be used in research related presentations. This consent must be sought at the beginning of the research project and also during the final evaluation interview with each participant.

How outcomes will be presented and promoted:

* The project has been planned to develop over a 6 month period and by its very nature it requires a close working relationship with colleagues and clients living and working in the local community. The presentation and promotion of the research findings will therefore take place locally, with all those involved and will use a discussion/seminar forum to develop links and highlight benefits beyond the immediate research phase.

* The Inter-Cultural Research Project: forming clinical and academic links with partners and care providers in South India, China and Taiwan in order to study Art Therapy interventions in non-western cultures.

* Object-Relations Theory and Practice: A study of key theoretical principles from Object-Relations Theory as evidenced in Art Therapy case material.

*Methodology Trials: A Longitudinal Research study into the use of images and non-verbal narratives as a valid ethnographic research tool used alongside cross-cultural comparisons data.

* Art Therapy Efficacy: Clinical Trials into efficacy and tracking therapeutic change using Standard Outcomes-based Assessment Methods to measure clinical efficacy across diverse cultural settings.