This book presents ground-breaking research on the ways the Arts fosters motivation and engagement in both academic and non-academic domains. It reports on mixed method, international research that investigated how the Arts make a difference in the lives of young people. Drawing on the findings of a longitudinal quantitative study led by the…

Reading Improvement Through Art (RITA) program is an interdisciplinary approach to literacy that blends visual art with reading comprehension, evaluated in nine New York City urban high schools. 240 problem readers participating in the pilot program were pre- and post-tested in the Fall 1975 and Spring 1976 semesters. The testing showed the 9th…

This document describes a study to assess the change in students' responses toward the visual arts as a result of their participation in an entrance level art course. The course was structured to provide the students with an understanding of art skills, a recognition of excellence in art objects, and knowledge of diversity of delivery through…

This paper on the nature of expertise discusses implications of findings of an earlier study into the problem-solving, problem-finding and thought processes of 3 groups: 20 professional artists (experts), 20 semiprofessional artists (non-experts), and 20 non-artists (novices), each group consisting of 10 male and 10 female adults. Subjects were…

Describes the three part system of human vision. Explores the anatomical arrangement of the vision system from the eyes to the brain. Traces the path of various visual signals to their interpretations by the brain. Discusses human visual perception and its implications in art and design. (CW)

This report summarizes the findings of a research project involving a consortium of American art museums that joined forced to understand themselves better from the perspective of their visitors. The project had three objectives: (1) to identify staff expectations and impressions of public expectations about art museums; (2) to evaluate public…

Two studies investigated: (1) the art preference of young children for realistic, stylized, and abstract styles; and (2) the influence that exposure to art has on these style preferences. Analyses revealed that exposure increased preference for the selected painting as well as preference for other paintings in that style. (PCB)

More than 17,000 respondents from a representative sample of the population were interviewed by the Bureau of the Census during 1982 about their participation in arts activities. Separate national samples were collected during each month of the year. Ten major areas were addressed: (1) the size of the audience for the arts; (2) the relationship…

Two studies compared the visual preferences, cognitive abilities, and occupational interests of artists and nonartists. Study One compared scores on an experimental battery of artistic judgment tests for three groups: professional artists, Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation examinees in art-related professions, and Foundation examinees not in…

Since highly creative individuals are more likely to experience depression, this article examines the hypothesis that appraisal may be a mediating feature between creativity and affect. Measurement of creativity, cognitive appraisal patterns, and mood in 104 undergraduate art or science students found art students were more creative, experienced…

This paper focuses on two questions: (1) Can visual arts be an effective way for students to express what they have learned in social studies?; and (2) Can creative activity improve motivation, participation, attitude, and enhance learning in social studies? The sample for study was drawn from 75 fifth-graders in 3 classes in a school located in a…

A nationwide study was undertaken to gain insight into the process of instructional innovation within higher education visual arts programs. Existing theory provides little insight into the innovation process within arts programs offered at the college/university level. Moreover, the economic pressures facing higher education and a demographically…

This document consists of the two issues of the journal "Visual Arts in Research" published in 1994. This journal focuses on the theory and practice of visual arts education from educational, historical, philosophical, and psychological perspectives. Number 1 of this volume includes the following contributions: (1) "Zooming in on the Qualitative…

Describes study conducted with undergraduate students to examine the combined effects of orienting activities and levels of practice on learning from interactive video. The videodisc used, "Tour of the National Gallery of Art," is described, posttests and results are analyzed, and suggestions for further research are given. (27…

Reviews past studies of children's drawings and their relationship to academic ability. Discusses the use of Clark's Drawing Abilities Test with gifted and talented secondary students. Finds that the test can be used successfully to identify various ability levels among students. (CFR)