Subjectivity – Dr Lynette Pretorius

Tags: Education for social justice, Epistemic justice, Ethical research practice, Ethics, Inclusion, Research methods, Research skills, Stories, Subjectivity

Psychological capital in the PhD

Posted: 19 November, 2024

Continue reading “Psychological capital in the PhD”

Hi there! Have you ever wondered what it really takes to thrive during a PhD? For over a decade, I’ve worked closely with graduate students, helping them navigate the academic and emotional hurdles of this journey. Along the way, I’ve seen a lot—students overwhelmed by isolation, stress, and uncertainty. Many come to me not knowing …

Tags: Autoethnography, Doctoral education, Education for social justice, Mental health, Reflection, Sense of belonging, Stories, Student experience, Subjectivity, Wellbeing

Data coding for qualitative research

Continue reading “Data coding for qualitative research”

Posted: 5 November, 202422 November, 2024

1 Comment

Coding is an essential step in transforming raw and often messy data into structured insights that reveal the nuanced layers of human experiences and perceptions. In this post, I will explore the basics of data coding. It is important to note that there is no one “correct” way to code, with different researchers preferring different …

Tags: Research methods, Research skills, Stories, Subjectivity, Theoretical Framework

Common data analysis methods

Continue reading “Common data analysis methods”

Posted: 28 October, 20248 November, 2024

1 Comment

Unlocking meaningful insights from data starts with selecting the right analysis strategy. Each approach to data analysis offers unique pathways for understanding complex information, yet choosing the best fit depends on knowing what each method can reveal. In this post, I explore five key strategies: statistical analysis, content or document analysis, thematic analysis, phenomenological analysis, …

Tags: Ethical research practice, Objectivity, Research methods, Research skills, Stories, Subjectivity

Common data collection methods

Posted: 21 October, 20245 November, 2024

Continue reading “Common data collection methods”

In research, data collection is the cornerstone of meaningful analysis. Whether you’re conducting a small-scale qualitative study or a large quantitative survey, the method you use determines the depth, breadth, and reliability of your findings. Imagine you’re trying to understand how people form habits such as saving money, staying fit, or using technology. Do you …

Tags: Ethical research practice, Objectivity, Research methods, Research skills, Stories, Subjectivity

Participant recruitment strategies in research

Posted: 20 September, 20245 November, 2024

Continue reading “Participant recruitment strategies in research”

The way researchers select their participants impacts the validity and reliability of their findings, making participant recruitment one of the most crucial steps in the research process. But how do researchers go about this task? What strategies do they use to ensure their sample accurately reflects the broader population or the group they are investigating? …

Tags: Ethical research practice, Objectivity, Research methods, Research skills, Stories, Subjectivity

Exploring 10 popular research designs: a quick guide

Posted: 17 September, 20245 November, 2024

Continue reading “Exploring 10 popular research designs: a quick guide”

In research, the design chosen plays a pivotal role in determining how data are collected, analysed, and interpreted. Each design provides a unique lens through which researchers can explore their questions, offering distinct advantages and limitations. Below, I summarise ten common research designs, spanning qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Action Research Action research is …

Tags: Autoethnography, Ethical research practice, Objectivity, Research methods, Research skills, Stories, Subjectivity

Moving beyond binaries in research: weaving the tapestry of participants’ experiences

Continue reading “Moving beyond binaries in research: weaving the tapestry of participants’ experiences”

Posted: 10 March, 202418 October, 2024

1 Comment

In today’s data-driven world, there is a lot of talk about making decisions based on so-called objective data. For example, schools and universities use information about the mix of students and staff to shape how they teach and run things. Information such as age, where people live, how much schooling they have had, or their …

Tags: Diversity, Education for social justice, Epistemic justice, Ethical research practice, Ethics, Inclusion, Intersectionality, Research methods, Research skills, Sense of belonging, Stories, Subjectivity

Demystifying research paradigms

Continue reading “Demystifying research paradigms”

Posted: 10 February, 20242 December, 2024

23 Comments

Let’s talk about one of the most complex parts of research – understanding the philosophical underpinnings of your worldview and how this shapes the way your research is done. This is called a research paradigm and is one of the areas I get the most frequent questions about from graduate research students. The popularity of …

Tags: Axiology, Constructivism, Critical realism, Epistemology, Interpretivism, Objectivity, Ontology, Positivism, Pragmatism, Research methods, Research paradigm, Research skills, Subjectivity

Autoethnography: What is it and how do you do it?

Continue reading “Autoethnography: What is it and how do you do it?”

Posted: 9 December, 20238 November, 2024

3 Comments

Autoethnography has become an increasingly popular research methodology, particularly within the humanities and social sciences. I use it regularly because of its emphasis on personal experiences, reflexivity, and storytelling which allows for a deeper exploration of complex experiences and societies. So what is autoethnography? The name autoethnography comes from three core aspects: self, culture, and …