Decolonizing Methodologies.

When I joined the project in early May I met with Professor Emma Bell and Dr Tim Butcher to discuss about the project. I was given an overview of the background of the project, previous work, interests, etc. which was really interesting. I have experience doing qualitative research and using online tools to do my work but I have never done any research on Empowering Methodologies. So one of the first things I asked was for reading material to familiarize with the topic. Tim kindly suggested a book who he had read and liked. The book is Decolonizing Methodologies. Research and Indigenous Peoples by Linda Tuhiwai Smith. Obviously the first thing I did after the meeting was to look for it.

I have read most of the book and it has been enlightening. I shared some of the ideas discussed but have never stopped to reflect more on them. I have never been keen on quantitative/positivist research in management, particularly because I think management is about people and their ideas, relationships and emotions. I think in-depth accounts and similar are better show and explain how "real people" are as opposed to numbers. This book has helped me to consider many more reasons.

I find the following quote by Professor Patti Lather (from the book's blurb) very inspiring:

Informed by critical and feminist evaluations of positivism, Tuhiwai Smith urges researching back and disrupting the rules of the research game toward practices that are more respectful, ethical, sympathetic and useful vs racist practices and attitudes, ethnocentric assumptions and exploitative research.

The following is the List of Contents:

1. Imperialism, History, Writing and Theory
2. Research Through Imperial Eyes
3. Colonizing Knowledges
4. Research Adventures on Indigenous Lands
5. Notes from Down Under 95
6. The Indigenous People's Project:
7. Articulating an Indigenous Research Agenda 123
8. Twenty-five Indigenous Projects 142
9. Responding to the Imperatives of an Indigenous
10. Towards Developing Indigenous Methodologies: Kaupapa Maori Research

I recommend this book if you are interested in qualitative research and why still nowadays qualitative researchers are still struggling to get more recognition.

You can download a PDF Version of the book from the Standing Rock website.

India Visit

At the end of May 2018 Emma and I visited the University of Delhi. We had a nice 2 hour meeting with Professor Sunita. It was my first time meeting her and it was fantastic to talk to her about her recent projects but mostly about her view of life and spirituality. We also had a chance to try their famous spicy buttermilk ;) We setup a time for a workshop the next day and Sunita promised to bring as many students as she could.

The workshop was a total success. Sunita made a brief introduction to the project and then Emma talked about the project in detail. A brief overview of Empowering Methodologies, which is still a working concept and what we expected from the workshop. We were looking for six PhD students to join the project to work on case studies which will exemplify the use of potential Empowering Methodologies. During the second part of the workshop we setup brainstorming groups with the students to discuss possible case study ideas based on their research background.

We finished the event satisfied with the amount of ideas and interest from the students. We had an attendance of maybe 30 students which was great. We asked them to submit written applications and at the moment we are in the process of selecting 6 of them. I will write an update about this before the end of June.

The day after the workshop we were kindly invited for dinner at Sunita's place. And again it was a great experience to talk to her and her family about India and spirituality.

Now back in the UK I am processing all that I learned and experienced in that wonderful country. Because of course we also had the opportunity to do some sightseeing.