Rethinking Qualitative Research Methodologies

Author(s):

Nesta Devine

Conference:

ECER 2010

Network:

13. Philosophy of Education - Standard submissions

Format:

Paper

Session Information

13 SES 06 B, Interpretation and Meaning

Paper Session

Time:

2010-08-26

10:30-12:00

Room:

PIII, Porthania

Chair:

Leena Maria Kakkori

Contribution

If cultural change is to mean anything substantial, more than simply a translation of existing practices into the words of another language, it has to embrace epistemological and ontological difference. Once that is acknowledged, then the keystone of university practice, research, and in particular research methodology, has to be envisaged as changing too. For European institutions with a strong, well articulated history of research methodologies, this can be a challenge. In this paper I would like to use as an example of such re-envisaging the ways in which Maori and Pacific Island researchers in New Zealand have undertaken the task of rethinking ‘research’ in the light of epistemological and ontological understandings which are different to those of conventional qualititative research methodologies. Subsequently I ask the questions, to what extent are these different, and to what extent are they perhaps simply adaptations which make research practices more acceptable to minority peoples? Can European institutions contemplate rethinking research methodologies as part of the effort to engage with immigrant cultures?

Method

by review of the existing literature on minority research methodologies with especial emphasis on Kaupapa Maori Research and Pasifika research methodologies.

Expected Outcomes

A survey of the field.

References

Manu’atu, L. (2000) Katoanga Faiva: A Pedagogical Site for Tongan students, Educational Philosophy and Theory, 32(1), pp. 73-80.. McKinley, E. (2005) Brown Bodies, White Coats: postcolonialism, Maori women and science, Discourse: studies in the cultural politics of education, 26(4), pp. 481-496. Metge J, & Kinloch, P. (1984) Talking past each other: problems of cross cultural communication. Wellington: Victoria University Press. Selby, J. (2004) Disruptions of Identity: Dynamics of working across indigenous differences, Qualitative Studies in Education, 17(1), pp. 143-156. Smith, L, (1999) Decolonizing Methodologies, Research and Indigenous Peoples. Dunedin: Zed Books, University of Otago Press. Tamasese, K., Peteru, C. & Waldegrave, C. (1998) O le teao afua,, the New Morning: A qualitative investigation into Samoan perspectives on mental health and culturally appropriate services. Christchurch: The Family Centre. Thaman, K. (1988), Ako and faiako: educational concepts, cultural values and teacher role perceptions in Tonga. University of the South Pacific, PhD thesis. Vaioleti, Timote (2006).Talanoa research methodology: A developing position on Pacific research Waikato Journal of Education

Author Information

Nesta Devine

Auckland University of Technology

School of Education

North Shore City

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