The Qualitative Open Mic

We are re-publishing Bee Damara's interview with the Qualitative Open Mic, which had been temporarily removed from our archive and was part of the Anti-racist Qualitative Health Research series. Bee speaks about critical race theory in modern slavery and human trafficking research, discussing her experiences working on the modern slavery outcome set project at KCL. She talks about the importance of grounding research in anti-racist theories, and how acknowledging historical and global inequalities can improve the quality and relevance of findings.

Parents get a lot of advice, and a lot of it is conflicting or inappropriate. Parenting research aims to be better than that – but is it, when neurodivergence is in the mix? This month Sohail speaks to Dr Victoria Castle about her participatory research using innovative qualitative methods to co-develop ways to measure parenting that work for neurodivergent parents and parents of neurodivergent children.

Elizabeth Hauke, Principal Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London and advocate for inclusive education, dives into the world of autoethnography and its significance for neurodivergent individuals. She shares personal narratives that illuminate the complexities of neurodivergence in research and educational settings. Hauke critiques traditional assessment methods, proposing innovative approaches like video diaries to foster inclusivity. The conversation also touches on the need for educational reforms that embrace diverse learning styles, promoting healthier teaching practices.

Sohail interviews Dr Hannah Belcher, author of Taking off the Mask and lecturer in user-led research at King's. They cover some of the ethical complexities of the neurodiversity framework; how the specifically gendered nature of mainstream autism research has overlooked the experiences of women and non binary people; and how all this plays into issues around masking, social pressure, and mental health.

Has qualitative research been complacent about its ability to highlight marginalised perspectives? Sohail speaks to Dr Morénike Giwa Onaiwu about forthcoming anthology "Neurodiversity en Noir" and platforming Black neurodivergent voices. 

Monique Botha, an assistant professor at Durham University, advocates for neurodivergent communities through community-led research. She discusses the disconnect between funding priorities in autism research and actual community needs. Botha emphasizes the importance of citational justice and the need to incorporate personal narratives into academic discourse. She calls for dismantling oppressive systems in research and stresses the value of emotional experiences for a more inclusive understanding of neurodiversity. Ultimately, her insights challenge traditional academic approaches and offer a transformative vision for the future.

Dr. Damian Milton, a senior lecturer at the Tizard Centre and a prominent advocate for participatory autism research, engages in a deep discussion about the double empathy problem. He critiques traditional autism theories for overlooking internal autistic experiences and highlights the need for qualitative insights. Milton stresses how ableism impacts autism research and champions the importance of autistic-led spaces in academia. Additionally, he humorously reclaims neurodiversity through terms like 'NeuroSpicy,' fostering identity and community strength.

Johnny Saldaña, Professor emeritus of Arizona State University and a trailblazer in qualitative inquiry, discusses his controversial stance on blue-collar qualitative research. He challenges the elitism pervasive in academia and advocates for the inclusion of diverse voices. Saldaña shares insights on the dangers of academic jargon, pushing for clearer communication to foster accessibility. He emphasizes the importance of lived experiences and multidisciplinary approaches in qualitative research, ultimately calling for solutions that resonate with the communities studied.

Why are there limited voices from sanctuary seekers in qualitative research about migrant health? Tesfalem Yemane and Hyab Yohannes bring a vital perspective on 'refugee-led scholarship', dissecting the challenges and significance of broadening the scholarly space to include those who have first-hand experience seeking sanctuary. 

Amy Wells, who works in communications for the National Survivor User Network, dives deep into the critical issue of tokenism in research involving service users. She highlights the thin line between genuine engagement and superficial involvement, stressing the importance of recognizing lived experiences as valuable insights. The discussion covers barriers to meaningful participation, advocating for innovative funding approaches like crowdfunding, and the necessity for ethical, long-term relationships with user-led groups to foster true collaboration.