How to easily describe African-centred research designs and methods in research reports and proposals

What are the major characteristics as African-centred research designs and methods

More African-centred research designs	Research designs that can be integrated with African-centred methods
Holistic, qualitative, and relational	Positivist, often quantitative
Researcher as part of the community	Researcher as an outsider
Flexible and context-based methods	Standardised methods
Knowledge seen as local and dynamic	Knowledge seen as universal
Emphasises community participation	Often individualistic

How to describe major Africa-centred designs

In each method presented, an example of a description is provided for the design, methods of data collection and analysis.

Afrocentric research design

“The Afrocentric approach was chosen to highlight the importance of African values and worldviews in understanding social issues. I used semi-structured interviews with 30 participants to capture their personal experiences within their cultural contexts, ensuring that the research was grounded in African epistemologies. The researcher had a Lugano (reciprocal meeting) with the only griot in the community at their home. These methods were critical because it allowed me to challenge Western-centric frameworks and ensure the research honoured African ways of knowing and being. It provided a more relevant and empowering approach to social research for African participants. For analysis, I employed a combination of thematic and content analysis. I first transcribed the interviews, then categorised the responses based on recurring themes such as respect for elders, collective identity, and community empowerment. These themes were then examined for their relevance to modern social service practices. The data were co-analysed with some participants in follow-up dare sessions, where we examined the interpretations together to ensure that the findings were true to their experiences and perspectives.”

Ubuntu research design

“The Ubuntu design was chosen because it aligns with the African philosophy of interconnectedness and mutual respect. I used interviews with 25 community members to explore how the principle of Ubuntu influenced social interactions and community development. This method was vital because it emphasised the importance of relationships in addressing social issues, reflecting the communal approach to well-being. It also provided a more holistic understanding of how justice and reciprocity could be applied in social work practices. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data, identifying key themes such as mutual support, collective responsibility, and reconciliation. These themes were then examined to understand how they manifest in real-world social practices and contribute to community development. Co-analysis was done with a group of community leaders during imbizo meetings, where they helped validate the findings and provided deeper insights into how Ubuntu is practised in their daily lives.”

Ujamaa design

“The Ujamaa method was employed to explore communal living and social structures within the community. I gathered data through participant observation and interviews with 25 people who were engaged in communal work. This method was used to investigate how community members support each other in various aspects of life. The data were analysed using a grounded theory approach, where I developed codes that reflected communal bonds, and analysis was shared with participants during imbizo sessions to ensure cultural relevance and depth.”

Experiential design

“This method allowed participants to share their experiences in a hands-on, participatory manner. Data were gathered by working alongside participants in local community initiatives, engaging with 30 people over a period of several months. The experiential method provided a deep understanding of community practices through direct involvement. The analysis involved reflective journaling and thematic coding, with co-analysis conducted during imbizo and dare sessions, where participants discussed their experiences and validated the findings.”

Indigenous knowledge systems design

“I conducted research using indigenous knowledge systems, focusing on understanding the local ecological practices. Data were gathered through storytelling sessions and in-depth interviews with 30 community elders who shared their wisdom. The research aimed to preserve and respect indigenous knowledge while exploring its applications in modern social work. Thematic analysis was applied to identify key patterns in ecological practices, and the data were co-analysed with the community in a dare session, where elders and young participants reflected on the findings together.”

Action research design

“In this design, I worked closely with the community to identify and address a pressing social issue. We collected data through surveys, interviews, and community meetings involving 40 participants. The action research approach allowed us to continuously reflect and refine our actions based on community feedback. Data analysis was conducted using a participatory approach, and we held imbizo sessions to discuss findings, allowing participants to directly influence the interpretation of the data.”

Participatory research design

“I adopted a participatory research design, where the community played an active role in the research process. I collected data through community workshops, interviews, and collaborative mapping exercises with 50 participants. This method was chosen to empower the community to take ownership of the research. The analysis was done through participatory methods, and findings were co-analysed during imbizo and dare sessions, ensuring the community’ perspectives were integrated throughout.”

Ethnographic research with an African perspective

“This ethnographic method was selected because it allowed me to immerse myself in the community, fostering a deeper understanding of their lived experiences. By observing daily activities and engaging in informal interactions with 20 participants, I was able to capture the nuances of social behaviour and cultural practices. This approach was essential in providing an authentic portrayal of the community’ social dynamics. The method’ emphasis on cultural context was crucial in ensuring the research respected the community’s values and ways of life. The data were analysed using an ethnographic analysis, which involved coding the observational notes and interview transcripts to identify key themes, followed by an interpretation of the cultural patterns and practices observed. Co-analysis was conducted with a team of local researchers during indaba sessions, where they helped contextualise the findings and provided additional insights from their own experiences within the community.”

Oral tradition-based research

“The oral tradition-based method was used because of its centrality in African societies for passing down knowledge. Engaging with 12 elders, five local storytellers and a griot allowed me to access cultural narratives that inform social values and community norms. This approach was selected to preserve and document these rich traditions, ensuring they were incorporated into the research. The method was necessary for capturing knowledge that is often excluded from formal education systems, providing a more inclusive view of community knowledge. Analysis was performed by transcribing the oral narratives and categorising the themes that emerged, such as intergenerational knowledge transfer, values of respect and responsibility, and community cohesion. I then interpreted these themes in the context of the study’s focus on social cohesion. Co-analysis was conducted with the storytellers during dare meetings, where they helped ensure the integrity of the interpretations and provided further context for the narratives shared.”

Sankofa research design

“Sankofa was used to bridge the past and present, as it stresses the importance of looking back to move forward. By incorporating the historical context of social systems in Africa, the method allowed for a deeper exploration of how traditional practices could inform contemporary issues. This approach was essential for understanding how cultural heritage could contribute to modern-day social practices. The method was necessary for capturing knowledge that is often excluded from formal education systems, providing a more inclusive view of community knowledge. Data were analysed using a historical analysis framework, where I compared past and present narratives to understand how cultural practices have evolved. This allowed me to reflect on how these traditions could inform future community strategies. The analysis highlighted changes over time, noting shifts in community values and social structures. I co-analysed the data with community elders in imbizo sessions, where they helped contextualise the findings and provided additional insights from their own experiences within the community.”

Integrating African-centred designs

Case study design

“I used the case study method to conduct a detailed examination of a specific community’s responses to social welfare challenges. Data were gathered through tree of life drawing sessions with 10 children, along with observations and document reviews, to create a comprehensive picture of the community’s issues. This method was crucial because it allowed me to gain deep insights into the complexities of a single case, which could then be used to inform broader social policy. Data analysis involved coding the pictures for recurring stories, followed by comparison across different case studies to identify broader themes and patterns. Co-analysis was done during dare group discussions, where participants shared their perspectives on the findings and helped refine the analysis.”

Positivist quantitative design

“This method was used to quantify social phenomena, often through structured surveys and statistical analysis. I distributed surveys to 200 participants to gather data on social service utilisation in the community. The design was selected because it allowed for a broad examination of patterns in social behaviour across a large population. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics to identify trends and relationships between key variables. During the analysis phase, I incorporated feedback from the community by holding imbizo sessions, where participants helped interpret the findings and provided additional contextual meaning.”

Survey design

“A survey design was chosen to collect quantitative data from a large group of 300 participants on their perceptions of local social services. This method was appropriate because it allowed for efficient data collection and the ability to generalise findings to a larger population. The analysis involved the use of statistical software to conduct correlation analyses and regression modelling, allowing me to explore relationships between variables such as service usage and satisfaction. Community input was incorporated through imbizo sessions, where participants provided feedback on the survey questions and interpretation of results.”

Longitudinal design

“This method was employed to track changes over time in the community’s attitudes towards social services. I conducted repeated interviews with 50 participants over a three-year period, which allowed for a deeper understanding of how their views evolved. The design was chosen because it provided the ability to observe trends and long-term effects, which were crucial for evaluating the impact of policy changes. Data analysis involved trend analysis, where I compared responses over time to identify significant shifts. Co-analysis was conducted during indaba sessions, where participants reviewed the trends and offered contextual insights.”

How this article was created with AI software

To draft this article, 83 prompts were used in ChatGPT. the main prompt asked the software to list African-centred research designs. Additional prompting asked it to remove some that were not relevant and to add others the author had from prior knowledge. Some of the prompts included using words in African languages. Words suggested were dare, indaba, imbizo, baliano and sankofa. Other prompts included including African methods such as tree of life, stories, griots, walks, works and narratives. other prompts included including a table, quotes, write as a researcher, include examples and write like a human being. The draft article was then exported into a Word document, revised and then compared with existing lists and literature. The whole process took 3 hours, spread over 2 days.