Music Therapy Research in Europe: A Context for the Qualitative/Quantitative Debate

Abstract

Research in music therapy has proliferated over the past decade, some conducted by practitioner-researchers, some by academics. This research includes both clinical and non-clinical studies and encompasses a variety of research methodologies — qualitative, quantitative, new paradigm, and single case-studies. This paper reports a number of emerging trends in music therapy research across Europe. It focuses specifically on research conducted at PhD or post-doctoral level, and acknowledges the debate between the adoption of qualitative and quantitative methodologies in music therapy research in Europe.