How can you design research projects that address intersectionality in HE diversity?

1 Why intersectionality matters

Research on HE diversity and inclusion is crucial for understanding and improving the experiences and outcomes of students, staff, and faculty from different backgrounds and identities. However, if your research does not account for intersectionality, you may miss or overlook important aspects of diversity and inclusion that affect your participants and your findings. For example, you may not capture the specific challenges and opportunities faced by black women, disabled LGBTQ+ people, or low-income immigrants in HE. By incorporating intersectionality into your research design, you can acknowledge and address the multiple and intersecting dimensions of diversity and inclusion that shape HE contexts and cultures.

2 How to define your research question

The first step in designing an intersectional research project is to define your research question. Your research question should be clear, focused, and relevant to your topic and purpose. It should also reflect your awareness of intersectionality and how it relates to your research topic. For example, if you are interested in exploring the experiences of first-generation students in HE, you may want to ask how their experiences vary by race, gender, class, or other factors. Alternatively, if you are interested in examining the impact of HE policies or practices on diversity and inclusion, you may want to ask how they affect different groups or individuals based on their intersecting identities and experiences.

4 How to select your research participants

The third step in designing an intersectional research project is to select your research participants. Your research participants should be representative of the population or group that you want to study, and they should reflect the diversity and intersectionality of that population or group. For example, if you are studying the experiences of women of color in HE, you may want to recruit participants from different racial, ethnic, cultural, and national backgrounds, as well as from different disciplines, levels, roles, and institutions. You may also want to use purposive or stratified sampling techniques to ensure that you include participants from different intersectional categories or groups in your sample.

5 How to collect your data

The fourth step in designing an intersectional research project is to collect your data. Your data collection should be consistent with your research methods, your research question, and your ethical standards. It should also be sensitive and respectful to the diversity and intersectionality of your participants and their data. For example, you may want to use culturally appropriate and inclusive language and tools to communicate and interact with your participants, and to collect and record their data. You may also want to use informed consent and confidentiality procedures to protect the rights and privacy of your participants and their data.

6 How to analyze your data

The fifth step in designing an intersectional research project is to analyze your data. Your data analysis should be rigorous, systematic, and transparent, and it should answer your research question. It should also account for and highlight the complexity and diversity of intersectionality in your data. For example, you may want to use thematic or content analysis to identify and explore the common and unique themes or patterns that emerge from your data across different intersectional categories or groups. Alternatively, you may want to use descriptive or inferential statistics to summarize and test the differences or relationships between your data based on different intersectional factors or variables.