Social Work professors are promoting adding a hyphen to the word “research” to form “re-search.” In their new book, Re-Search Methods in Social Work: Linking Ways of Knowing to Knowledge Creation, Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area professors Dr. Kimberly Calderwood and Dr. Marina Morgenshtern from the Social Work program, alongside Wilfrid Laurier University professor Dr. Kathleen Absolon (Minogiizhigokwe), write that adding the hyphen highlights the breakdown of the word: to look again. 

The hyphen creates a pause with the intention of inviting re-searchers and consumers of re-search to reflect on the colonizing aspects of traditional euro-western “research,” and engage in critical reflection about what it means to search again and the impacts (both positive and negative) of the search. Further, it denotes the journey of restoring Indigenous Knowledge production again by Indigenous searchers or from a critical de-colonial lens.  

“This re-search methods textbook is the first of its kind that brings together multiple worldviews into one ethical space where no one worldview dominates over the others,” said Professor Kimberly Calderwood. “It gives legitimacy to re-search methods conducted from Indigenous, transformative, interpretivist/constructivist, and (post)positivist worldviews while showing how a range of methods can contribute to greater inclusivity, anti-oppressive practice, and de-colonization.” 

Social work is a multi-disciplinary profession that draws from many different areas, including but not limited to Indigenous studies, business, education, nursing, psychology, sociology, gender and social justice, and child and youth studies.  

With a focus on de-colonization, anti-oppressive practice, social justice, social action, collaboration, and inclusion, their re-search methods textbook will help guide practitioners and re-searchers from social work and other disciplines across Turtle Island/Kanata/Canada in creating knowledge from a broad range of worldviews. 

Over 75 social work scholars and students attended the one-hour book launch last month, where the authors explained their vision and the highlights of the textbook. The recording can be found here.