3 Transformative research frameworks and Indigenous research
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Helen Kara
Abstract
Transformative research frameworks are a specific type of methodology that both acknowledge and seek the possibilities for transformation inherent in all research. These frameworks include participatory research, community-based research, feminist research, emancipatory or activist research, queer research and asset-based research. Many of these frameworks were devised by people experiencing oppression, some of whom were further marginalised by research and researchers. The intention was to make research more equitable and ethical, and there is some evidence of this working in practice. However, it is not the case that using a transformative research framework will necessarily lead to positive change. Also, the use of a transformative research framework usually raises new ethical challenges. While undoubtedly a helpful approach for researchers in some contexts, a transformative research framework is no panacea, and should be used with considerable thought and care.
This chapter also introduces Indigenous research and decolonising research methods. As we saw in Chapter 1, these are sometimes conflated, but they are not the same thing.
As so often with creative research methods, distinguishing between different types of transformative research doesn’t mean that those approaches can be used only in isolation. Queer research can also be community based, feminist research may also be asset based and so on. For example, Alexandre Frediani successfully combined a participatory approach with the asset-based capability model in his research into squatter-settlement upgrading projects and housing freedom in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (Frediani 2019).
Participatory research, also known as participatory action research, focuses on communities or groups and emphasises the full involvement of participants at every stage of the research process (Bhana 2006: 432) (Box 3.
Abstract
Transformative research frameworks are a specific type of methodology that both acknowledge and seek the possibilities for transformation inherent in all research. These frameworks include participatory research, community-based research, feminist research, emancipatory or activist research, queer research and asset-based research. Many of these frameworks were devised by people experiencing oppression, some of whom were further marginalised by research and researchers. The intention was to make research more equitable and ethical, and there is some evidence of this working in practice. However, it is not the case that using a transformative research framework will necessarily lead to positive change. Also, the use of a transformative research framework usually raises new ethical challenges. While undoubtedly a helpful approach for researchers in some contexts, a transformative research framework is no panacea, and should be used with considerable thought and care.
This chapter also introduces Indigenous research and decolonising research methods. As we saw in Chapter 1, these are sometimes conflated, but they are not the same thing.
As so often with creative research methods, distinguishing between different types of transformative research doesn’t mean that those approaches can be used only in isolation. Queer research can also be community based, feminist research may also be asset based and so on. For example, Alexandre Frediani successfully combined a participatory approach with the asset-based capability model in his research into squatter-settlement upgrading projects and housing freedom in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (Frediani 2019).
Participatory research, also known as participatory action research, focuses on communities or groups and emphasises the full involvement of participants at every stage of the research process (Bhana 2006: 432) (Box 3.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of boxes, figures and tables xi
- Notes on the author xv
- Foreword xvi
- Debts of gratitude xvii
- How this book can help 1
- Introducing creative research 5
- Creative research methods in practice 23
- Transformative research frameworks and Indigenous research 45
- Creative research methods and ethics 61
- Creative thinking 77
- Arts-based and embodied data gathering 101
- Technology-based and multi-modal data gathering 119
- Arts-based and embodied data analysis 135
- Technology-based and multi-modal data analysis 149
- Arts-based and embodied research reporting 163
- Technology-based and multi-modal research reporting 177
- Arts-based and embodied presentation 187
- Technology-based and multi-modal presentation 199
- From research into practice 215
- Conclusion 235
- Further reading 239
- References 241
- Index 285
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of boxes, figures and tables xi
- Notes on the author xv
- Foreword xvi
- Debts of gratitude xvii
- How this book can help 1
- Introducing creative research 5
- Creative research methods in practice 23
- Transformative research frameworks and Indigenous research 45
- Creative research methods and ethics 61
- Creative thinking 77
- Arts-based and embodied data gathering 101
- Technology-based and multi-modal data gathering 119
- Arts-based and embodied data analysis 135
- Technology-based and multi-modal data analysis 149
- Arts-based and embodied research reporting 163
- Technology-based and multi-modal research reporting 177
- Arts-based and embodied presentation 187
- Technology-based and multi-modal presentation 199
- From research into practice 215
- Conclusion 235
- Further reading 239
- References 241
- Index 285
