{"id":248,"date":"2018-06-28T21:40:09","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T21:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iasfm.org\/iasfm17\/?page_id=248"},"modified":"2018-07-21T21:18:45","modified_gmt":"2018-07-21T21:18:45","slug":"theme-four-reflective-praxis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iasfm.org\/iasfm17\/theme-four-reflective-praxis\/","title":{"rendered":"THEME FOUR: Reflective Praxis"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Roundtable: The Challenging and Evolving Nature of Methodological Approaches to Research on Forced Migration<\/span><\/h1>\n

<\/a>Dacia Douhaibi, York University; Rumana Hashem, University of East London; Erika Frydenlund, Old Dominion University; Shailja Sharma, DePaul University; Amadu Wire Khan, Independent researcher and refugee scholar from Sierra Leone; Jaya Dantas, Curtin University; Christa de Kock, Stellenbosch University<\/span><\/h2>\n

This roundtable discussion aims to examine the challenging and evolving nature of methodological approaches to research on forced migration. Scholars and practitioners with expertise in various methods, including traditional interview, focus group, and ethnographic fieldwork as well as more recent technical approaches such as modeling and simulation, will discuss the research needs, data sources, and changing landscape of methodological approaches brought on by current modern innovations, with consideration of the relationship between research and policy. The discussion will increase our knowledge of new methods and tools, as well as discuss the implications, both positive and negative, of certain methods in the context of forced migration research and practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

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One decade ago, researchers cautioned the forced migration community about methodological approaches driven by policymaking. With ever more methodological approaches available to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, we propose to revisit discussion on the dual imperative. The dual imperative is re-emerging as a central topic in methodological research given the advancements in data collection and availability, carrying with it the potential for both increased insights into forced migration, but also the potential to leave out critical populations and phenomena from inquiry, and in particular, the human face of forced migration.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Data driven research is an important part of both theoretical and policy development related to forced migration. With the increasing availability of remote based data, and the decreasing availability of direct, primary data as access to important research sites is limited, we must be sure to understand the methodological implications, including the limitations of new and innovative methods over more traditional approaches. In some cases, traditional approaches may be the most appropriate way to answer the question or challenge at hand. Only through discussion with researchers and practitioners can we fully understand the scope of the data, methods, and tools available to answer the most pressing forced migration challenges and questions, including to understand the value and limitations of various approaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

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An important goal of the roundtable discussion will be stimulating critical discourse surrounding the rapidly changing technological environment in which refugees, researchers, and practitioners exist. Though it seems we have access to more data than ever, there are still many things we do not understand about fundamental aspects of forced migration, such as push\/pull factors of particularly marginalized groups, the impact of intersections between social, political, environmental and economic crises, what constitutes appropriate case specific humanitarian response that avoids contributing to conflict, the varied routes that refugees take to their destination country, or what truly constitutes a \u2018durable solution.\u2019 What remains crucial to critically grapple with it whether with access to more of some kinds of data and advances in methodological tools, we have the ability to increase our understanding of these phenomena, or whether this data obscures important detail. Discussion of traditional and new methods and where these may lead us in the future will help us explore the nuances of this issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The questions that we seek to address, and begin to answer, include: What new, innovative methods have emerged in recent forced migration research, literature, and practice? How we can use both traditional and new methods to solve the most imminent forced migration questions of our time? What topics are prioritized by certain methodological approaches? How can we combine some approaches by taking into consideration the limitations and\/or complementary nature of those methods? What new ethical dilemmas arise from changing methodological toolkits? How are old ethical dilemmas changed by new approaches?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Areas of methodological discussion may include:<\/span><\/p>\n

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