Decolonisation Calculator for Research (Deca-R)
Use this calculator to plan and review research, whether by students, academics, government or independent researchers. Score your research at the proposal stage and again when it is completed. Give each question a score from 0 to 10. The scores add up to a total out of 100, the rate of decolonisation of your research. “Local” means your country or Africa.
| No. | Area | Question | Proposal (0 to 10) | Completed (0 to 10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Problem and solutions | On a scale of 0 to 10, how far does the research address local and indigenous problems, and seek local solutions? | ||
| 2 | Literature and orature | Out of every 10 sources used, how many are African, including orature such as proverbs, stories and songs?Count each main section: background, literature review, methods, discussion and implications. Use Global South sources where African ones are not available.Below 8 does not meet the African Journal of Social Work minimum of 75% African sources. | ||
| 3 | Philosophy and theory | On a scale of 0 to 10, how far do Ubuntu or other African philosophies, and a named theory under them, guide the research? | ||
| 4 | Methods | On a scale of 0 to 10, how far are the methods local or indigenous, such as storytelling, dialogue circles or community mapping, and, for reviews, how far were African databases such as AJOL and oral or unpublished sources searched? | ||
| 5 | Ethics | On a scale of 0 to 10, how far does the research have ethics clearance, ethics training in the last two years, and a reflection that includes the ethics used in your family or community?Clearance can come from the African Independent Ethics Committee (AIEC) or an institutional or national board. Training can come from Mfundo or another recognised programme. | ||
| 6 | Participation | On a scale of 0 to 10, how far were communities partners in setting questions, collecting and analysing data, and reviewing results? | ||
| 7 | Researcher credibility | On a scale of 0 to 10, how acceptable and credible are the researchers to the community, in knowledge, language and relationships? | ||
| 8 | Language and dissemination | On a scale of 0 to 10, how far are results shared in local languages and accessible formats, such as community meetings, radio, briefs or open-access African journals? | ||
| 9 | Implications, use and impact | On a scale of 0 to 10, how clear are the implications and recommendations for Africa, the plan for using results, and the follow-up of impact? | ||
| 10 | Funding and independence | Out of every 10 units of funding, how many came from local or African sources, free of conflicts of interest? | ||
| Total out of 100 | – | – | ||
| Rating | – | – | ||
Scale
| Score | Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 49 | Colonial | Research mostly follows imported knowledge, theories, methods and priorities. |
| 50 to 74 | Transitioning to decolonial | Local and African knowledge, methods and partners are growing in the research. |
| 75 to 89 | Decolonial | Local knowledge, methods, languages and community partnership guide most of the research. |
| 90 to 100 | Indigenous | Research is rooted in Ubuntu, local knowledge, languages and orature, and is owned and used by communities. |
Sources consulted
- Mugumbate, J., & Mtetwa, E. (2019). Reframing social work research for Africa’s consumers of research products: A guiding tool. African Journal of Social Work, 9(2), 52–58.
- Mtandao, Africa Social Work and Development Network. (2022). Decolonisation calculator for social work and development education institutions (DECA-SWDEI) (Version 1.01). https://africasocialwork.net/decolonisation-calculator/
- Mtandao, Africa Social Work and Development Network. (2022). Decolonisation calculator for tertiary education institutions (DECA-TEI) (Version 1.01). https://africasocialwork.net/decolonisation-calculator-for-tertiary-institutions-dcti/
- African Journal of Social Work. (n.d.). Author guidelines. https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net/author-guidelines/