To study the impact that the art participation has upon the social well-being of young children

This project will embed a PhD student within a local arts centre in order to study the impact that the art participation has upon the social well-being of young children and how shared art experiences may help to build strong attachment relationships. This will be looked at from two perspectives; studying the impact upon families with children who attend participatory arts activities as part of the centre’s activity programme, and measuring the efficacy of a specific arts psychotherapy intervention which targets families with young children where the attachment relationships are considered vulnerable. Outcome measures will be derived from a tool based on close observation of the parent-infant dyads and through standardised measurement of attachment to allow thorough statistical assessment of the extent to which art therapy is an effective early mental health intervention, for whom, and why. In consultation with the arts centre, these evaluative and observation tools will also be refined to be workable within a community participatory arts setting. This will address questions of what impact the centre’s learning programme is having and how this can be measured.

You can find out more here* https://www.dundee.ac.uk/social-sciences/news/2018/article/scottish-graduate-school-of-social-science-collaborative-studentship-313-studentship-available--university-of-dundee.php

Eligibility

• A good first degree (at least 2:1), preferably with a social science or arts component
• Demonstrate an interest in, and knowledge of participatory arts, attachment and evidence based practise
• Have a good grounding in research skills or impact evaluation, and experience working with children and families.

Students must meet ESRC eligibility criteria, available here*: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/postgraduates/prospective-students/eligibility/index.aspx

How to Apply

All applicants should complete and collate the following documentation then attach to a single email and send to [Email Address Removed] by 7th May 2018.
a) Academic Transcript(s)
Full academic transcript(s) from previous studies (undergraduate and postgraduate).

b) 2 x references
On official headed notepaper and signed by referees.

References can also be emailed direct to [Email Address Removed] by referees via their official University email address.

c) Copy of CV

d) Applicant statement detailing your interest in the project, and how your prior experience prepares you to take it on.

e) Scottish Graduate School for Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership Equal Opportunities Form: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/media/dundeewebsite/socialsciences/news/Equal_Opportunities_Monitoring-2018.docx

Any application which fails to meet the above requirements will not be considered.

Selection Process

Applications will be ranked by a selection panel and applicants will be notified if they have been shortlisted for interview by 14th May. Interviews will take place on 28th May 2018.

All scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission to a PhD programme within University of Dundee. Successful scholarship applicants will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme after they are selected for funding.