Research Methods for African Scholarship: Applying Qualitative and Quantitative Socio-cultural Methods in African Countries

This book spotlights and demystifies under-researched elements of research design to support successful research initiatives undertaken by students in African universities. This volume marks a significant and important departure from research design books rooted in European and American socio-cultural context and places emphasis on contextual realities in Africa. Attending to socio-cultural oral and written methods of eliciting data from participants, contextual sampling techniques, oral and third-party open ended survey instrumentation, and multi-pronged data analysis schemes that emphasize ontological, epistemological, and axiological findings, these chapters constitute a novel and much-needed focus on realities and examples from the continent of Africa. Written by African scholars, the book will appeal to post-graduate students and early-career scholars and researchers with interests in research methods across the social sciences.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Theory and Methodological Dilemma for Research in Africa: A Defense of Afrocentricity Frameworks 3. At a Disjuncture? African Research Epistemologies and Ontologies 4. Literature Assessment 5. Africa’s Narratives & Oral Cultures 6. Scientific Review of Research Protocols, Ethics and Academic Integrity in Africa 7. Qualitative Research & Application in the African Context 8. Quantitative Research & Application in African Context 9. Multiple Research Methods and the African Context 10. Mixed Method Research and the African Context 11. Language, Translation of Measurement Instruments, and Data Analysis

About the Author :
Kehbuma Langmia is a double Fulbright Scholar/Professor and Chair in the Department of Communication Studies, School of Communications, Howard University. A graduate from the Communication and Media Studies Program at Howard University, Langmia received his Ph.D. under the supervision of the feminist scholar, Carolyn Byerly. Chuka Onwumechili is Professor of Human Communications at Howard University where he directs the Annenberg Honors Program. In addition, he serves as Editor-In-Chief of the Howard Journal of Communications. Laban Ayiro has been a chemistry teacher, principal of several high schools, Provincial Director of Education, Deputy Director of Staff Training (Kenya Education Management Institute), Senior Deputy Director for Policy and Planning at the Ministry Headquarters, and Senior Deputy Director for Research and Curriculum Development at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. Agnes Lucy Lando, is a religious missionary and Full Professor of Communication and Media Studies and the incumbent Director of Research and Graduate Studies at Daystar University, Nairobi.

Review :
A noble initiative. It should inspire rethinking culturally relevant approaches to research and scholarship. This work will serve emerging and established scholars, alike.- Prof. Bala A. Musa, Ph.D., Azusa Pacific University, U.S.A.