Bell’s interest in qualitative research grew from her desire to shine a light on the issue of gender equity in jazz education. She conceptualized, designed, and acquired funding for, an interview based qualitative research study of the experience of young female instrumentalists currently participating in high school jazz education programs. Bell’s study was funded through the Temple University Diamond Research Scholars Program.
Her study, Gender and Jazz: The Experience of Women in Jazz Education, was awarded the 2021 Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award for Diversity and Social Justice.
Bell has presented her research at the 2021 Jazz Education Network Conference, and was published in the International Trumpet Guild Journal in 2023.