CI 8150 "Research and Social Justice: Epistemological and Ethical Issues in Research with Minoritized Populations," 4:40-7:20 pm, Mondays. Spring 2010. Led by Professor Bic Ngo

To register for the course, please visit the OneStop course schedule page

This seminar is designed for students who have passed their preliminary exams and are beginning/writing their dissertations. It will engage students from a variety of disciplines and research interests in consideration of the epistemological and ethical issues and implications of doing research for social justice. In this course, we will examine the possibilities and problematics of research that seeks to understand and explicate inequality and disparities in the experiences of immigrant and other minoritized populations. The class will emphasize critical epistemology and practices in data collection, analysis and writing of research. We will consider the work of interdisciplinary, critical researchers, debates about the role of research for social change, and issues related to reflexivity and representation. Using students' research interests as a point of departure, this course will engage students in the discussion of questions such as: How do institutional and social positions affect research? What is the role of advocacy in research? How do we write research that is effective for public policy and advocacy? How might research "help" or "empower" research participants/groups-and are such efforts always welcome?

Readings for the course will draw from interdisciplinary scholarship. Seminar activities will include a focus on individual student projects in small working groups, one-on-one consultations, and a significant amount of time for writing. Further, this course will prepare students for scholarship that crosses disciplinary boundaries in two ways. First, it will assist students with writing that is accessible to non-specialists and readers outside of their disciplines. Second, this course will provide students with training in the collegial critique practice of constructive peer-review.

Professor Ngo is in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and Human Development.