After nearly 2 decades in education I’ve only just realised I research like middle- aged white man.
Which might be fine for academic practice because the whole world is subconsciously hardwired that way from the moment we start kindergarten– but it also makes my own views of research feel illegitimate sometimes when I notice a cultural gap in who I’m consuming research from, or if my personal experience has been different to what’s been published in a journal.
Things to consider while doing research:
- Is my research accessible?
- Is my research inclusive?
- Is my research conducted through a masculine lens?
- Is my research conducted through a heteronormative lens?
- Is my research ableist?
- Is my research ethical?
- Does my bibliography have a good ratio of POC researchers/researchers who get their info from more than just one part of the world?
Couple more that could take a lifetime to find the correct answers to but important to consider anyway:
- Have I presented my research in a way that is truly non- biased? Is that even possible?
- If not, what are the steps I can take to ensure that my research is actually considerate and not somehow harmful to the reader?