HMPYC 80:
Research
Methodology
Chapter 02 –
An Afro-sensed Perspective on
Decolonising Research
Methodologies
HMPYC 8
, ➢ 1. Introduction:
• The fundamental point of decolonising research methodologies debates is how research is still steeped in t
North American-centric worldview.
• Building on Smith’s work, Ndlovu-Gatsheni emphasizes that decolonizing methodologies must include undoi
history”.
- Consequently, researchers in the social sciences are faced with a challenge of revisiting the impact of colon
• The South African higher education space is dominated by student protests that question what and how the
at Universities.
- One of these protests is the widespread student uprising commonly known as #FeesMustFall, which has ve
expressed the need to decolonize the curriculum and adapted to the African context.
• Before conducting research in a decolonized manner, researchers should ask the following questions:
1. What is the best way of facilitating decolonize and indigenized research?
2. Which tools can researchers use to engage in indigenized research?
3. What are the pitfalls of indigenized research?
, ➢ 2. An Afro-Sensed Perspective on Indigenised Research
➢ 2.1. Decolonization:
• The decolonization of research is defined by Chilisa as a process of conducting research in such a way that
worldviews of those who have suffered a long history of oppression and marginalization are enabled, using
of reference.
- Building on Chilisa’s work, We argue that such a process involves “researching back”; reordering how disci
psychology, social work, education, history, anthropology, sociology or science have been described and the
through an ideology of “othering”.
• decolonizing research methodologies therefore challenge Eurocentric research methods that undermine th
knowledge and experiences of marginalized population groups.
• Decolonization means many things to many people. – The process of decolonization brings potential benefi
ability to conduct emancipatory and participatory research.
- However, it can only be beneficial if all those involved have a common understanding and set of beliefs an
that research should be conducted through an indigenized research process and in a decolonized manner.
• The process of decolonization research should be an ethical, ontological and political exercise rather than si
approach and ways of producing knowledge.
• Smith, Chilisa and Ndlovu-Gatsheni Strongly argue that the decolonization process in research is about deco
and reconstruction; it is all about deliberate disobedience to the norm of thinking and conducting research
recoveries and discoveries.
Research
Methodology
Chapter 02 –
An Afro-sensed Perspective on
Decolonising Research
Methodologies
HMPYC 8
, ➢ 1. Introduction:
• The fundamental point of decolonising research methodologies debates is how research is still steeped in t
North American-centric worldview.
• Building on Smith’s work, Ndlovu-Gatsheni emphasizes that decolonizing methodologies must include undoi
history”.
- Consequently, researchers in the social sciences are faced with a challenge of revisiting the impact of colon
• The South African higher education space is dominated by student protests that question what and how the
at Universities.
- One of these protests is the widespread student uprising commonly known as #FeesMustFall, which has ve
expressed the need to decolonize the curriculum and adapted to the African context.
• Before conducting research in a decolonized manner, researchers should ask the following questions:
1. What is the best way of facilitating decolonize and indigenized research?
2. Which tools can researchers use to engage in indigenized research?
3. What are the pitfalls of indigenized research?
, ➢ 2. An Afro-Sensed Perspective on Indigenised Research
➢ 2.1. Decolonization:
• The decolonization of research is defined by Chilisa as a process of conducting research in such a way that
worldviews of those who have suffered a long history of oppression and marginalization are enabled, using
of reference.
- Building on Chilisa’s work, We argue that such a process involves “researching back”; reordering how disci
psychology, social work, education, history, anthropology, sociology or science have been described and the
through an ideology of “othering”.
• decolonizing research methodologies therefore challenge Eurocentric research methods that undermine th
knowledge and experiences of marginalized population groups.
• Decolonization means many things to many people. – The process of decolonization brings potential benefi
ability to conduct emancipatory and participatory research.
- However, it can only be beneficial if all those involved have a common understanding and set of beliefs an
that research should be conducted through an indigenized research process and in a decolonized manner.
• The process of decolonization research should be an ethical, ontological and political exercise rather than si
approach and ways of producing knowledge.
• Smith, Chilisa and Ndlovu-Gatsheni Strongly argue that the decolonization process in research is about deco
and reconstruction; it is all about deliberate disobedience to the norm of thinking and conducting research
recoveries and discoveries.
