Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive university
The context in which self-study research is conducted is sometimes complex, affecting the manner in which related data is gathered and interpreted. This article comprises collaboration between three students and two supervisors. It shares methodological choices made by graduate students and supervi...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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University of the Free State
2014-06-01
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Series: | Perspectives in Education |
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Online Access: | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/1865 |
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author | Thenjiwe Meyiwa Paul Mokhele Nkosinathi Sotshangane Sizakele Makhanya |
author_facet | Thenjiwe Meyiwa Paul Mokhele Nkosinathi Sotshangane Sizakele Makhanya |
author_sort | Thenjiwe Meyiwa |
collection | DOAJ |
description |
The context in which self-study research is conducted is sometimes complex, affecting the manner in which related data is gathered and interpreted. This article comprises collaboration between three students and two supervisors. It shares methodological choices made by graduate students and supervisors of a rural university at which, selfstudy research was introduced in 2010. As individuals, and as a collective, we reflect on the reasons and decisions for adopting certain research approaches towards selfstudy: the ways in which such decisions are negotiated in conceptualising, conducting, transcribing, and supervising graduate research. While self-reflexive data-collection approaches (mainly journal writing and storytelling) guide our research, the manner in which data is analysed and presented to the wider university community is influenced by expectations and by the context of the university. We, therefore, use innovative approaches differing from self-study research, speaking more to the challenges and expectations of a rural context. We further reflect on the implications such choices have for our research and the work produced – where knowledge shifts are executed, methodologies are re-defined and social change is desired.
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first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:40:37Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-232ded8e3ce54b848f819f59b21b8994 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 0258-2236 2519-593X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-25T02:11:28Z |
publishDate | 2014-06-01 |
publisher | University of the Free State |
record_format | Article |
series | Perspectives in Education |
spelling | doaj.art-232ded8e3ce54b848f819f59b21b89942024-03-07T11:17:36ZengUniversity of the Free StatePerspectives in Education0258-22362519-593X2014-06-01322Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive universityThenjiwe Meyiwa0Paul Mokhele1Nkosinathi Sotshangane2Sizakele Makhanya3Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) & Durban University of TechnologyWalter Sisulu UniversityWalter Sisulu UniversityMangosuthu University of Technology The context in which self-study research is conducted is sometimes complex, affecting the manner in which related data is gathered and interpreted. This article comprises collaboration between three students and two supervisors. It shares methodological choices made by graduate students and supervisors of a rural university at which, selfstudy research was introduced in 2010. As individuals, and as a collective, we reflect on the reasons and decisions for adopting certain research approaches towards selfstudy: the ways in which such decisions are negotiated in conceptualising, conducting, transcribing, and supervising graduate research. While self-reflexive data-collection approaches (mainly journal writing and storytelling) guide our research, the manner in which data is analysed and presented to the wider university community is influenced by expectations and by the context of the university. We, therefore, use innovative approaches differing from self-study research, speaking more to the challenges and expectations of a rural context. We further reflect on the implications such choices have for our research and the work produced – where knowledge shifts are executed, methodologies are re-defined and social change is desired. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/1865Rural universityself-studysocial transformationreflexive ubuntu |
spellingShingle | Thenjiwe Meyiwa Paul Mokhele Nkosinathi Sotshangane Sizakele Makhanya Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive university Perspectives in Education Rural university self-study social transformation reflexive ubuntu |
title | Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive university |
title_full | Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive university |
title_fullStr | Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive university |
title_full_unstemmed | Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive university |
title_short | Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive university |
title_sort | complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self study in a rural comprehensive university |
topic | Rural university self-study social transformation reflexive ubuntu |
url | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/1865 |
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