This roundtable arises from the work of the EADI task group on Methods Innovation which supports innovation by EADI researchers, specifically in relation to interdisciplinary research approaches, involving the mixing of methods over time and space and at multiple scales. We also critically explore the ways in which the methods used in development research reflect their colonial heritage and might continue to perpetuate power imbalances, while actively engaging with alternative ways of doing research. Starting from the premise that how we do research matters, the questions addressed by the round table include how fundamental political, material and epistemological shifts within international development affect the ways in which research is done, and how can we share best practice in innovative research methods and ensuring equitable research partnerships. Our invited panellists will offer a 10-minute introduction to the innovative aspects of their use of methods in research. This will be followed by general reflections from the convenors, and a facilitated conversation with the audience.

Our thematically diverse panel brings together perspectives on participatory methodologies, sustainability, data innovation, and transformative knowledge frameworks. The discussion will explore the hybrid implementation of participatory audio-visual methods with internally displaced women in Colombia; examine research on the relationship between sustainability and wellbeing; address the integration of new data sources—such as citizen science and Earth Observation—into official development statistics; and reflect on transformative and Indigenous frameworks and relational ontologies in the context of research and evaluation.

Speakers

• Sonja Marzi - Radboud University, The Netherlands
• Monica Guillen-Royo - Center for International Climate Research – CICERO, Norway
• Dilek Fraisl - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria
• Bagele Chilisa - University of Botswana