RSE4801
Assignment 6 2025
Contingency Assignment
Unique number:
Due Date: 23 January 2026
A. LEARNING UNIT 1: BECOMING AN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER
INTRODUCTION
Becoming an effective educational researcher is a journey that requires more than technical
skills. It is a personal and professional transformation that involves curiosity, courage,
commitment to justice, and deep respect for people and knowledge. In South Africa, with its
history of apartheid, inequality and cultural diversity, educational research must also focus
on social justice and decolonisation. This means researchers must not only collect data but
understand how their research affects communities and society.
This essay discusses the most important skills and qualities needed to become a strong
educational researcher. These include contextual awareness, ethical responsibility, critical
thinking, curiosity, reflexivity and the ability to intervene and create positive change. Each of
these qualities will be connected to how they shape the research design and the final
outcomes of research. The ideas of Linda Tuhiwai Smith (1999) and other researchers such
Terms of use
By making use of this document you agree to:
as Khan (2021) and Hostetler (2005) will guide this reflection.
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 67 171 1739
A. LEARNING UNIT 1: BECOMING AN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER
INTRODUCTION
Becoming an effective educational researcher is a journey that requires more than
technical skills. It is a personal and professional transformation that involves curiosity,
courage, commitment to justice, and deep respect for people and knowledge. In South
Africa, with its history of apartheid, inequality and cultural diversity, educational research
must also focus on social justice and decolonisation. This means researchers must not
only collect data but understand how their research affects communities and society.
This essay discusses the most important skills and qualities needed to become a strong
educational researcher. These include contextual awareness, ethical responsibility, critical
thinking, curiosity, reflexivity and the ability to intervene and create positive change. Each
of these qualities will be connected to how they shape the research design and the final
outcomes of research. The ideas of Linda Tuhiwai Smith (1999) and other researchers
such as Khan (2021) and Hostetler (2005) will guide this reflection.
1. CONTEXTUAL AWARENESS AND DECOLONIAL COMMITMENT
Educational researchers in South Africa must begin by understanding the deep social,
historical, and political inequalities that still affect the education system. A good researcher
knows that knowledge is not neutral. It has been used in the past to exclude, silence and
dominate certain communities. Smith (1999) explains how research in colonised contexts
has often hurt indigenous people by ignoring their knowledge and values.
In South Africa, where many learners still face poor infrastructure, language barriers and
exclusion, research must be context-driven. An effective researcher is aware of how
poverty, race, language and disability affect education. They use this awareness to shape
research questions that matter to local communities and make sure their findings are
useful in real life.
Contextual awareness helps shape the research design. It influences how the problem is
framed, how participants are selected, and which methods are used. For example, when
working in a rural area, a researcher may choose participatory or narrative methods to
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
Assignment 6 2025
Contingency Assignment
Unique number:
Due Date: 23 January 2026
A. LEARNING UNIT 1: BECOMING AN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER
INTRODUCTION
Becoming an effective educational researcher is a journey that requires more than technical
skills. It is a personal and professional transformation that involves curiosity, courage,
commitment to justice, and deep respect for people and knowledge. In South Africa, with its
history of apartheid, inequality and cultural diversity, educational research must also focus
on social justice and decolonisation. This means researchers must not only collect data but
understand how their research affects communities and society.
This essay discusses the most important skills and qualities needed to become a strong
educational researcher. These include contextual awareness, ethical responsibility, critical
thinking, curiosity, reflexivity and the ability to intervene and create positive change. Each of
these qualities will be connected to how they shape the research design and the final
outcomes of research. The ideas of Linda Tuhiwai Smith (1999) and other researchers such
Terms of use
By making use of this document you agree to:
as Khan (2021) and Hostetler (2005) will guide this reflection.
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 67 171 1739
A. LEARNING UNIT 1: BECOMING AN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER
INTRODUCTION
Becoming an effective educational researcher is a journey that requires more than
technical skills. It is a personal and professional transformation that involves curiosity,
courage, commitment to justice, and deep respect for people and knowledge. In South
Africa, with its history of apartheid, inequality and cultural diversity, educational research
must also focus on social justice and decolonisation. This means researchers must not
only collect data but understand how their research affects communities and society.
This essay discusses the most important skills and qualities needed to become a strong
educational researcher. These include contextual awareness, ethical responsibility, critical
thinking, curiosity, reflexivity and the ability to intervene and create positive change. Each
of these qualities will be connected to how they shape the research design and the final
outcomes of research. The ideas of Linda Tuhiwai Smith (1999) and other researchers
such as Khan (2021) and Hostetler (2005) will guide this reflection.
1. CONTEXTUAL AWARENESS AND DECOLONIAL COMMITMENT
Educational researchers in South Africa must begin by understanding the deep social,
historical, and political inequalities that still affect the education system. A good researcher
knows that knowledge is not neutral. It has been used in the past to exclude, silence and
dominate certain communities. Smith (1999) explains how research in colonised contexts
has often hurt indigenous people by ignoring their knowledge and values.
In South Africa, where many learners still face poor infrastructure, language barriers and
exclusion, research must be context-driven. An effective researcher is aware of how
poverty, race, language and disability affect education. They use this awareness to shape
research questions that matter to local communities and make sure their findings are
useful in real life.
Contextual awareness helps shape the research design. It influences how the problem is
framed, how participants are selected, and which methods are used. For example, when
working in a rural area, a researcher may choose participatory or narrative methods to
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
