CRANE RESEARCH WORKSHOP RECAP: What does anti-racist research in education look like?
February 2021
Traditional research design often fails to center on how to incorporate an anti-racist lens. This workshop from Dr. Mitsui Narui, Crane Center’s director of research, and Dr. Kenyona Walker, research specialist at the Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE), provided an introduction to critical race theory and anti-racist research design in education.
Drs. Narui and Walker outlined what it means to design research – and consider study participants – from an anti-racist lens. They also described the five core tenets of critical race theory, and encouraged participants to consider their “positionality” as researchers. In other words, researchers must consider the ways in which their own positions within the world (e.g., political views, race, social class) influence their research.
Key Takeaways, provided by Dr. Kenyona Walker
#1
As researchers exploring the experiences of others, we too bring a whole-self and our experiences to this work. We must begin to understand what impact (negative/positive) that has on how we approach our research.
#2
If you’re an insider, be aware of what you bring to your research. If you’re an outsider, consider the sensitivities that you must have to engage in anti-bias research.
#3
When we look at the assets, barriers and systemic issues related to our most marginalized populations, we address the needs and highlight the assets of most of our students.
#4
Anti-racist research/program/project design, implementation, evaluation and dissemination includes the affected population from the beginning to the end.
#5
There are many factors that contribute to the performance, academic success and experience of marginalized students. Bias based on race across the educational experience is a factor that we must account for in our research.
#6
If we take an anti-racist stance in our lives, we will have a sensitive lens that honors our position in our work and service.
Action Steps
Researchers seeking to center anti-racism in their research design should:
#1
Ask themselves what role race plays in their research
#2
Challenge the notion of color-blindness, given that impartiality and neutrality do not exist
#3
Avoid the use of deficit language as well as neutral statements, such as the “achievement gap” and “at risk” when referencing minoritized children and study participants
#4
Use the results from research to seek social change, and consider useful ways to disseminate the findings so that they have real-world impact