Qualitative Research at the Anton the Kom University in Suriname: coping with positivist traditions
Format Type
Plenary
Format Type
Paper
Start Date
14-1-2021 4:20 PM
End Date
14-1-2021 4:40 PM
Abstract
Qualitative research is lectured and conducted at certain departments of the Anton de Kom University in Suriname, but little attention is paid to the challenges of these practices. The aim of this paper is to share experiences and coping mechanisms regarding the respective challenges. Two cases are assessed in depth: (1) an evaluation of the master course qualitative research using MaxQDA and (2) strong public criticism on a bachelor thesis addressing sexual taboos among East Indian females in Suriname. To do so, qualitative analyses are made of student evaluation forms and exam papers of this mastercourse, as well as of newspaper articles and interviews addressing the respective bachelor thesis. Both cases reveal that positivist ideals about quality of research persist in academic circles. An explanation is the praxis of the Anton de Kom University. Most educational departments strongly focus on quantitative methods. In addition to this, there is a relatively weak qualitative research tradition. Education in qualitative research education is provided at some departments and often at the basic level.
Keywords
Suriname, qualitative research, education
ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0908-3626
Qualitative Research at the Anton the Kom University in Suriname: coping with positivist traditions
Qualitative research is lectured and conducted at certain departments of the Anton de Kom University in Suriname, but little attention is paid to the challenges of these practices. The aim of this paper is to share experiences and coping mechanisms regarding the respective challenges. Two cases are assessed in depth: (1) an evaluation of the master course qualitative research using MaxQDA and (2) strong public criticism on a bachelor thesis addressing sexual taboos among East Indian females in Suriname. To do so, qualitative analyses are made of student evaluation forms and exam papers of this mastercourse, as well as of newspaper articles and interviews addressing the respective bachelor thesis. Both cases reveal that positivist ideals about quality of research persist in academic circles. An explanation is the praxis of the Anton de Kom University. Most educational departments strongly focus on quantitative methods. In addition to this, there is a relatively weak qualitative research tradition. Education in qualitative research education is provided at some departments and often at the basic level.