Background
Research Question: What are the advantages of art programs designed for immigrants, specifically those aimed at cultivating stronger inclusion, integration, and respect for immigrant human rights?
Hypothesis: The benefits of immigrant-based art programs, which foster greater inclusion, integration, and respect for human rights among immigrants, include shared experiences in democratic spaces, increased respect, tolerance, and emotional well-being.
Annotated Bibliography
Gutiérrez-Vicario, M. A. (2016). More than a mural: The intersection of public art, immigrant youth, and human rights. Radical Teacher, 104, 55-61.
The given publication primarily focuses on how young people, especially those with immigrant backgrounds, utilize street and public art to advocate for human rights. It is important for students to “learn about human rights through the process of reflecting on artists who focus on human rights and through the process of their own art-making on human rights issues” (Gutiérrez-Vicario, 2016, p. 55). Mural-making, conducted by Art and Resistance Through Education (ARTE), showcases how students can creatively use their artistic skills and inspiration to communicate core messages about human rights, such as immigrant rights and anti-racism.
Additionally, students can use mural art to share their experiences by reflecting on their journeys as immigrants (GutiĂ©rrez-Vicario, 2016). As a result, a significant proposal is made to merge critical pedagogy with programs and organizations, such as ARTE, to create democratic spaces. The publication is highly relevant, as it will provide solid evidence of art’s effectiveness in enabling immigrants to share their experiences and advocate for human rights. The limitation of the source is that it focuses on a single program.
Velthuis, E., Verkuyten, M., & Smeekes, A. (2021). The Different Faces of Social Tolerance: Conceptualizing and Measuring Respect and Coexistence Tolerance. Social Indicators Research, 158, 1105-1125.
The source reviewed several studies to understand how the coexistence of tolerance and respect tolerance differentially impacts the general social tolerance levels in a diverse society. The key finding is that both forms of tolerance categories are negatively correlated with immigrant prejudices (Velthuis, 2021). However, of these two, respect tolerance was found to be superior at predicting acceptance and promoting better mutual coexistence than a more common coexistence tolerance. For example, people with strong national identities exhibited moderate levels of coexistence tolerance but low levels of respect tolerance, which is why they were less accepting of immigrants than less prejudiced groups (Velthuis, 2021).
In other words, respect tolerance and not coexistence tolerance is a better predictor of reduced prejudice levels when it comes to immigrants. Therefore, intergroup relations in highly diverse societies can be significantly improved if efforts focus on promoting respect and tolerance rather than mere coexistence. The source will provide the research with a clearer direction toward promoting respect, tolerance, and reducing prejudice. The limitation is that it focuses on Dutch populations, which may not be representative of the US population.
Wang, G., Kim, Y., & Oh, Y. (2019). A case study on the collage art therapy for immigrant youths. Education and Information Technologies, 24, 1115–1129.
The study analyzes emotional changes among immigrant youth after 10 sessions of college art therapy. The findings indicate that, before the intervention, the participants were defensive primarily and hostile, as indicated by the symbols and artwork components. However, after the therapy, participants became more positive about their adaptation and desire for achievement (Wang et al., 2019).
Thus, art therapies can be highly effective in facilitating the emotional growth of immigrants, especially among young people. The study can serve as evidence that embracing immigrant culture promotes better emotional development and well-being among vulnerable populations. The limitation of the study is that it is conducted in South Korea, which is not as diverse as society in the US.
Research Strategy
The following are the proposed elements to carry out the research:
Study Population: Immigrant-based art program participants in New York City.
Sample Strategy: A purposive sampling method will be used to identify immigrant-based art programs in New York City. Recruitment will involve contacting these organizations and inviting program participants to participate in the research project. I would create an Excel sheet listing all members by immigrant status and type, such as foreign-born, first-generation, second-generation, and English language learners.
Method of Data Collection: Online focus groups will be conducted with participants from the selected immigrant-based art programs.
Questions:
- How has participating in an immigrant-based art program impacted your sense of inclusion and integration in your community?
- In what ways has the art program fostered respect and tolerance for coexistence within the group?
- Can you share any experiences where the art program helped you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of other cultures?
- How has the art program contributed to your emotional well-being and personal growth?
- What aspects of the immigrant-based art program do you believe are most effective in promoting human rights and social integration?
Research Timeline: The proposed research will take place over approximately 4 months.
- 4 weeks to contact the organizations and participants.
- 8 weeks for finalizing respondent outreach, collecting data, and analyzing the results.
- 4 weeks to write the proposal and present the findings.