Ruth DeSouza » Research

Research

Research has been described as “the techniques or processes for producing knowledge within a particular epistemology” (Scheurich & Young, 1997, p.12) . Questions of epistemology are “questions about how can we know certain things and what counts as legitimate knowledge of those things” (Tolich & Davidson, 1999, p.23) . It can, therefore, be argued that research is partially at least a product of the researcher’s own values and social position. Therefore the values of the white, middle class, male elite who dominate the research community will be reflected in the main (Blair, 1998) . Furthermore, “because whiteness is the ideology of the center, those who operate within its precincts are not obliged to examine the power and the privilege that their whiteness affords them” (McLaren, Carrillo-Rowe, Clark, & Craft, 2001, p.211). Now that I've got your attention, you might be interested in considering the significance of positioning and the process of research as being as important as the findings. This page has a few of my links and interests, like my other pages it is very much a work in progress.

This page has the following sections Discourse analysis Foucault Evaluation research Feminist research Logical positivism and scientific knowledge Contemporary philosophy, critical theory and postmodern thought Qualitative research Quantitative research Migrant and refugee research Maori research Pacific research Online journals and encyclopedias Queer theory Reporting research findings Research software and resources Social research

These pages have relevant links: Families New Zealand Migrants Education Nursing Mental Health Gender and mental health My related presentations and publications

Discourse analysis

As a PhD student I am interested in using Discourse analysis as a methodology (within a postcolonial feminist epistemology). Discourse analysis involves a number of qualitative, language- oriented approaches concerned with analysing talk, text and other signifying practises (Campbell & Arnold, 2004; Malson, Marshall, & Woollett, 2002) that can be used within different epistemological paradigms. Discourses are “socially and culturally produced patterns of language, which constitute power by constructing objects in particular ways” (Francis, 1999, p.383) and as such a person or group can be positioned as powerless within one discourse whilst positioning themselves as powerful in another. Discourses are not transparent media reflecting some underlying reality but rather they constitute particular versions of reality which are accompanied by power relations and regimes of truth (Malson et al., 2002) .

Foucault

Here are some links to Foucault websites (with thanks to Megan Mills)

Evaluation research

Feminist research

Some of the limits and assumptions of feminism (particularly radical) include the scapegoating of men as being the cause of women's difficulties. Feminism claims that all women have the same experience or are similarly affected by patriarchy, however, most feminist theory is done from a white middle class perspective and may not represent the experiences of women of colour. Feminism assumes that all men are equally dominant (as long as they are white, middle-class, hetero-sexual and able-bodied) and that all women are oppressed and a homogenous group. (Ussher, 1991). Feminism does not address the duality it might create by not addressing mens needs. To analyse women's experience of oppression purely from the perspective of gender is naive. Other societal oppressions are equally important, and may be more helpful to the individual woman, for example, age, sexuality, race, disability or class. Women can be enemies of, and oppress, each other. Feminism may be more useful to women as a group than individual women (social and political change). Pushed to free ourselves without having the means to, may put undue pressure on us whilst we continue to work within a paradigm of logical positivism and a hierarchy that sees itself as the expert on matters of health and illness. The influence of feminism on knowledge development within the discipline of nursing and nursing practise has been discussed broadly previously in this assignment. Early nursing leaders were clearly feminist in their thinking, motivation and work (Chinn & Wheeler, 1985). An example is Florence Nightingale, who defied the traditional role of Victorian women and inspired other women to gain knowledge (emancipation through education), however, she had no allegiance to the women's movement of the time and escaped into the world of the male ruling class and separated herself from other women who were aspiring to similar goals.

I am interested in how research scholarship can be more inclusive, not just in terms of the inclusion of diverse participants but in regards to knowledge construction from different locations The links below relate to my research findings as well as my interests.

Logical positivism and scientific knowledge

The logical positivist paradigm evolved from the works of the philosopher Descartes (1596-1650) who made a conceptual separation between the mind and body. This was developed further by the Vienna Circle of philosophers in the 1880's who wanted to eliminate metaphysics from the sciences and make science objective and verifiable. The impact of this paradigm on medical thought has resulted in the "medical model." The values of this paradigm in scientific knowledge development have been:

The paradigm shift

Developments in physics in the early twentieth century resulted in a new world view. The body changed from being viewed as machine, to that of a living organism. This "paradigm shift" was influenced by modern Einsteinian physics which led to a shift from:

The paradigm shift

Continuity to discontinuity.

Certainty to probability.

Discrete entities to patterning.

Isolated events to interactions.

Absolute truth to contextual and historical truth.

The observer being separate from observations to being a part of them.

There has been a corresponding shift in health as described by Ferguson (1980), from:

The shift in health

The treatment of symptoms to a search for patterns.

Viewing pain and disease as negative to important information for the person.

A mechanical view of the body to that of a dynamic field of energy within other fields

Seeing disease as a process rather than an entity.

Contemporary Philosophy, Critical Theory and Postmodern Thought, Cultural Studies

Critical social theory evolved in the1920's in Germany, as a result of the technological knowledge being developed by logical positivistic science and its contribution to the oppression of the lower classes.It was further developed by Habermas (1971) whose three approaches to knowledge and its development include:

1. Technical, best understood by an empirical and analytical approach.
2. Practical, understood through a historical/hermeneutic approach.
3. Issues critical to human beings by an emancipatory approach.

Qualitative research

Qualitative research is being increasingly utilised in nursing as nurse- researchers re-examine the role of positivistic methods in developing nursing knowledge. Previously nurse- researchers attempted to emulate "good science", primarily from the quantitative research paradigm, as a way of achieving the same credibility as medicine but problems have occurred with positivistic research methods which have difficulty dealing with things that are not "reducible, quantifiable nor objective." Some would argue that nursing questions about the quality of life, meaning and lived experience are less relevant within the logical positivist framework. Arguments against a qualitative research perspective include its lack of generalizability because the rich and detailed descriptions of lived experiences are unique to the individual, information is highly contextual, local and "impotent"and that the inability to offer generalisations will maintain marginalisation of nursing by other groups). Some of my favourite links to qualitative research resources.

Quantitative research

Links

NZSSN The New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN) was recently established to assist in the development of quantitative social science research in the academic, government and private research sectors. The intent of the network is to provide a focus for the sharing of research development resources and delivery of quantitative data-bases. For further information contact d.patrick@auckland.ac.nz.

Quantitative Research Design by Will G Hopkins PhD, a highly readable article about Quantitative research

Migrant and Refugee research

There is little health research about migrants in New Zealand and what research exists focuses on pathology. From my experience research is needed that guides and resources health professionals. Many health professionals feel insufficiently prepared and educated for working within a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society. The aim of my thesis was to develop knowledge through which the care given to minority women could be enhanced. However and perhaps more significantly, my research identified the need for inclusive methodologies and suggested strategies for researchers working within minority cultures to avoid pathologising and homogenising the experiences of their particpants.

Refugees that have resettled in New Zealand mostly originate from Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. Most refugees arriving in New Zealand will spend six weeks at the Mangere Refugee Reception Centre (MRRC) in South Auckland. New Zealand accepts a United Nations-mandated quota of 750 refugees per year, plus approximately the same number again of asylum seekers. In 2004, the first ever National Refugee Research Symposium was held in Auckland at Unitec New Zealand. You can download the Conference Programme (pdf 684KB), Reference Materials (pdf 684KB) and Strangers in Town Handout (downloadable pdf 98KB).

Maori research

Kaupapa Maori refers to practices that guide Maori researchers (Linda Smith, 1999:120 cited in Kataraina Pipi, Fiona Cram, Rene Hawke, Sharon Hawke, Te Miringa Huriwai Tania Mataki, Moe Milne, Karen Morgan, Huhana Tuhaka, Colleen Tuuta (2004) including:

• aroha ki te tangata (a respect for people)
• kanohi kitea (the seen face; that is, present yourself to people face to face)
• titiro, whakarongo … korero (look, listen … speak)
• manaaki ki te tangata (share and host people, be generous)
• kia tupato (be cautious)
• kaua e takahia te mana o te tangata (do not trample over the mana of the people)
• kaua e mahaki (do not flaunt your knowledge).

Central to Kaupapa Maori are the legitimacy and validity of being Maori, the importance of ensuring the survival and revival of Maori language and culture and the primacy of self-determination to Maori cultural wellbeing (Graham Hingangaroa Smith (1996) cited in Pipi et al., 2004) . Here are some useful links to Maori resources. The Social Policy Journals on the MSD website are a great resource too, I have included links to a couple of articles.

Pacific Research

In a similar vein, Pacific researchers are developing a range of theoretical frameworks such as Tamasese, Peteru and Waldegrave's (1997) concept of Fa'afaletui, Teremoana Maua-Hodge's Tivaevae Model (2000), Jean Mitaera's concept of the 'Researcher as the First Paradigm', Konai Helu Thaman's metaphor of 'Kakala' (1992) and Koloto (2001) Pacific Cultural Competency framework (cited in Dr ‘Ana Hau‘alofa‘ia Koloto, 2003).

Online journals and encyclopedias

Research software and resources

Social research

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Copyright © 2003-2007 Ruth DeSouza. All rights reserved. Contact: ruth[at]wairua.com.