Perceptions of and Opportunities for AMTA Journals: A Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Music Therapy Research
• Scholarly Publishing
• Social Justice in Academia

Background:

• The Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives, sponsored by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), have recently prioritized inclusion, access, equity, and social justice.
• This focus aligns with AMTA's organizational shift towards centering social justice principles in its statements and practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess readers' use and perceptions of the music therapy journals.
• To evaluate reader perceptions regarding the integration of diversity and social justice principles within the journals.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining an online survey of 409 board-certified music therapists with five focus groups (16 participants).
• Survey data informed focus group questions to gather in-depth qualitative insights.

Main Results:

• Survey data revealed diverse opinions on journal usage and the inclusion of social justice principles.
• Focus group participants expressed a consensus that more effort is needed to integrate social justice and address inclusion and access issues.
• Readers perceive some integration of these principles but advocate for more intentional implementation across both journals.

Conclusions:

• While music therapy journals have begun integrating social justice, readers seek more deliberate and comprehensive application.
• Participants provided actionable steps for enhancing inclusivity and social justice within the journals' content and editorial practices.