Association for the Study of Higher Education

This paper considers fundamental questions raised in the current debate about Afrocentric research methods in the social sciences. The discussion covers feminist, critical theory, radical humanist, radical structuralist, ethnographic, naturalistic inquiry, constructivism, and phenomenological inquiry approaches to research. The working definition of Afrocentric research methodology is primarily derived from the work of Molefi K. Asante. The paper offers a chronology of the developing dialogue among intellectuals about Afrocentric research methods. It also looks at Afrocentrism in terms of Eurocentrism, Afrocentric social theory, and Afrocentric social science. Further discussion treats ontology, epistemology, and physics. An exploration of methods, location, the role of the researcher, validity and integrity, and ethics culminates in a list of 10 important concepts and ideas to describe the emerging principles of Afrocentric research methodology including the following: (1) Afrocentricity offers a new paradigm of social theory and social science which represents a major departure; (2) it provides a unique lens for analyzing all forms of oppression at the same time and with the same degree of commitment, among them race, gender, and class; and (3) knowledge which is inherently Eurocentric is abandoned, and all knowledge is scrutinized for Eurocentric bias. (Contains 31 references.) (JB) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ************************************************************..**********