Innovative Research Methodologies: Posthumanist Methodologies

This podcast is the fourth in a series commissioned by the Research Methodology in Education Special Interest Group to showcase the variety of methodologies and methods being undertaken by researchers in education. In this episode, Dr Bukola Oyinloye, co-convenor of the RME SIG is in conversation with Louise Haxwell and Dr Julie Ovington. They discuss posthumanist methodologies, a way of transcending anthropocentric ways of doing research to consider how humans exist in relation to and in connection with non-humans, materialities, and human feelings, emotions, etc. They reflect on the possibilities of using these methodologies, including how it is an approach which does not leave the researcher unchanged, and the challenges they’ve encountered. They also offer some suggestions for those who seek to explore the approach in their work. Julie and Louise are part of the Bag Ladies collective, and have collectively written on posthumanist methodologies, including a chapter in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Research Methods. The Bag Ladies share their thoughts-feelings-doings on their website here.

Julie and Louise would also like to give special thanks to Katie Strom, Nikki Fairchild and Carol Taylor, amongst many others, for continuously informing their thinking.