Published
20-10-2025
Type of Work
Presentation (Seminar, forum, etc)
Abstract
This seminar examines approaches to practice and research within an academic context, with particular reference to the academic scholarship framework at SAE University College. It introduces distinctions between creative practice and research, demonstrating how disciplinary practice may be transformed into recognised scholarly output when it is contextualised within a theoretical framework, critically reflective, and disseminated for peer engagement.
Drawing on methodologies by Candy (2006), Skains (2018), and Barrett (2019), the presentation outlines methodological models for Practice-as-Research (PaR), Practice-Based Research (PBR), Practice-Led Research, Research-Led Practice, and hybrid approaches. It highlights the iterative and open-ended character of creative research processes, in which research questions evolve through studio enquiry, documentation, post-textual analysis, and critical exegesis. Emphasis is placed on the proposition that the creative artefact itself constitutes a core component of the contribution to knowledge, yet requires cohesive integration with rigorous written analysis to meet scholarly standards equivalent to traditional research paradigms.
The seminar contextualises these methodologies within SAE’s Academic Scholarship Points (ASP) framework, addressing how reach, recognition, and impact are measured in a teaching-focused institution. It considers dissemination pathways including journals, conferences, public presentations, performances, workshops, digital platforms, and institutional repositories, and reflects on how creative outputs may be grouped or staged across multi-year projects to evidence scholarly value. Drawing on examples from James Kelly’s doctoral (2019) and postdoctoral research, the presentation demonstrates how a single research trajectory may generate multiple scholarly outputs.
The seminar argues for an expanded understanding of scholarship that recognises creative practice as a legitimate and rigorous mode of knowledge production. By clarifying methodological distinctions, articulating evaluative criteria, and situating creative work within institutional research frameworks, the session supports colleagues in transforming professional practice into measurable, impactful academic scholarship.
Citation
Kelly, J. (2025). When creative practice becomes research [Practice and Research Seminar Presentation, SAE University College]