Practice Based Research
Practice-based research is a methodological approach that integrates creative or artistic practice with formal investigation into a specific subject or problem. Rather than treating artistic work and research as separate activities, this method uses the act of making, creating, or practicing as the primary means of generating knowledge and understanding. The approach is particularly suited to exploring complex phenomena that may resist traditional empirical methods, by embedding inquiry directly within the creative process itself.
Characteristics and Application
In practice-based research, the creation of artifacts, designs, or artworks functions as both the research process and its primary output. Knowledge is generated through experimentation, iteration, and reflection on the work itself, rather than solely through documentation or analysis conducted after the fact. This approach is common in fields such as design, fine arts, music, and human-computer interaction, where tacit knowledge and embodied understanding play significant roles.
Example: Dyslexia Visualization
The work of researcher-practitioners like Kim Percy demonstrates practice-based research applied to understanding dyslexia through visual design and artistic exploration. Rather than conducting traditional studies of dyslexic reading patterns, such work uses the design process itself—creating visualizations, typographic experiments, and interactive systems—as a means of investigating how dyslexic individuals perceive and process written text. The resulting visual artifacts serve simultaneously as research outputs, evidence of understanding, and tools for communication and awareness.