Statistics supporting arts education?

[chloelazo]

I'm looking for a webpage or a book or any resource that would directly give me statistics supporting my theory that the integration of art has positively impacted schools. I want to prove that art improves student's behavior and attitude, possibly even their self esteem and attendance.

I am specifically looking for STATISTICS supporting this theory.


ANY HELP/ANSWERS WOULD BE APPRECIATED!

Thank you.

[Vay]

Help/Answer:

Firstly how did you form that theory because there might be other factors that affect the outcome of somethings. Also a theory have to be proven first before it can be a called theory, first you gather info. And your "theory" should be considered a claim while not yet proven.

but enough with that, if art education does positively effect a students behavior or attitude, someone years ago should have found out.

Most kids like art because it is "cool" and fun. The bad kids in my school play too much video games and that is pretty much where they get their interest in art. And the behavior of my art class was horrible where kids would curse out loud, but anyways a good student is a good student and a bad student is a bad student (in some occasions does art turn students good due to an art class, but lets face it in some occasions puppies may turn students good too).

But what i think that made you formulated this "theory" that art makes better students has flaws, you should find any external factors that might have altered student characteristics. Example:

1st premise: John believes that the government should control the business.
2nd premise: a communist believes the government should control business.
conclusion: John is a communist.

Though this makes sense, it may or may not contain fallacy like your theory.
Because maybe John is just a poor person who operates a small business and disagrees with other areas of the communist economy.

or to your claim, maybe the students were always good. Or maybe the art teacher just looks hot. Or maybe the teacher is a very good teacher.

1st premise: John has very good behaviour.
2nd premise: There is an art class in John's school.
conclusion (with obvious fallacy): Art class made John have good behavior.

Are you writing an essay? It would be better to write it on a smaller scale than on the whole of education.

Example: Maybe a school is located somewhere most people are art enthusiasts. And so students behave better in the art class.

[Kiva]

Hi chloelazo,

there are tons of studies out there about the impact of art on many spheres of life. Many of these links should take you to empirical studies done to show that art education has a positive effect on students, their ability to think critically, their positive risk-taking behaviors, and their problem-solving skills. These studies focus on K-12 art, so hopefully that is a fit with what you are looking for:

http://www.artslynx.org/heal/rsrch.htm

http://www.arteducators.org/olc/pub/NAEA/research/

Hope this helps!

Kiva