Applied improvisation and communication simulation are supported by decades of research across education, healthcare, pastoral care, organizational psychology, and communication studies. These experiential approaches help individuals and teams build empathy, responsiveness, clarity, and collaborative problem-solving. The following bibliography highlights peer-reviewed studies and professional articles demonstrating their impact across multiple fields.
Healthcare Studies
1. Watson, Katie. “Perspective: Serious Play: Teaching Medical Skills With Improvisational Theater Techniques.” Academic Medicine. 2011.
2. Brotman, Barbara. “Northwestern med students practice improv.” Chicago Tribune, 2010
.3. O’Reilly, Kevin B. “Comedic skills for a serious role.” American Medical News, 2011.
4. Hoffman, Ari et al. “Improving medical student communication skills through improvisational theatre.” Medical Education, 2008.
5. Shochet, Robert et al. “Thinking on my feet.” Education for Primary Care, 2013.
6. Hammer, Rachel et al. “Telling the Patient’s Story.” Medical Humanities, 2011.
7. Stokes, TA; Watson KL; Boss, RD. “Teaching Antenatal Counseling Skills.” Seminars in Perinatology, 2014.
8. Lestch, Corinne. “Pathology residents... improv class.” Daily News, 2012.
9. Boesen, Kevin et al. “Improvisational exercises to improve pharmacy students' communication skills.” AJPE, 2009.
Faith Community Studies
1. Lehmann, Paul. “Improvisation and the Life of Faith.” Theology Today, 2003.
2. Walton, Heather. “The Art of Theological Reflection Through Performance.” JATE, 2014.
3. Ganzevoort, Ruard. “Exploring Pastoral Care Through Drama and Role-Play.” Pastoral Psychology, 2009.
4. Kriz, Willy. “Simulation Gaming and Pastoral Skills.” Simulation & Gaming, 2010.
5. Lartey, Emmanuel. "In Living Color..." 2013.
6. Patton, John. “Listening as a Form of Ministry.” Pastoral Psychology, 2010.
7. Cahalan, Kathleen. "Introducing the Practice of Ministry," 2010.
8. Osmer, Richard. "Practical Theology: An Introduction," 2008.
9. Killen & de Beer. "The Art of Theological Reflection," 2012.
Community-Focused Organizational Studies
1. Perrmann, Graham et al. “Fostering psychological safety using improvisation.” 2022.
2. Schwenke et al. “Impact of improvisational theatre on creativity and resilience.” 2024.
3. Berkemeyer et al. “Creative and healthy through improv.” 2025.
4. Scherbaum et al. “Improv to Improve.” 2020.
5. Kirsten & Western. “Improvisational theatre as team development intervention.” 2010.
6. Battaglia et al. “Improvisational workshop for Communityâ– Academic Partnerships.” 2021.
Applied Improv in Pre-School, Elementary & Secondary Education
1. Lobman, Carrie. “Improvisation: An Analytic Tool for Examining Teacher–Child Interactions in the Early Childhood Classroom.” Early Childhood Education Journal. 2005.
2. Goldstein, Tamar & Winner, Ellen. “Improvisational Theater Training Improves Social Skills in Children.” Journal of Aesthetic Education. 2012.
3. DeBettigniesâ– Goldstein et al. “Improvisational Theater Classes Improve Self-Concept.” Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. 2019.
4.Sawyer, R. Keith. “Improvisational Teaching and Creative Learning.” American Educational Research Journal. 2004.
5. Toivanenâ– Komulainen et al. “Drama Education and Students’ Social and Emotional Skills.” Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. 2016.
6.Cawthonâ– Dawson. “Drama-Based Professional Development for Teachers.” Journal for Learning Through the Arts. 2009.
Applied Improv in Government & Public Sector Settings
1. Moshavi, Dan. “Yes-and: Introducing Improvisational Theatre Techniques to Management Education.” Journal of Management Education. 2001.(Widely cited in public administration and leadership training contexts.)
2. Veraâ– Crossan. “Improvisation and Innovative Performance in Teams.” Organization Science. 2005.
3. Berkemeyer â– Bosâ– Manitius. “Creative and Healthy Through Improvisation.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022.
4. Kriz, Willy. “Simulation Gaming and Experiential Learning in Public Sector Training.” Simulation & Gaming. 2010.
5. Pässiläâ– Oikarinenâ– Vince. “Improvisation as a Method for Organizational Renewal in Public Organizations.” Public Management Review. 2014.
6. Schrage, Michael. Serious Play: How the World’s Best Companies Simulate to Innovate. Harvard Business School Press. 2000.