In any scientific endeavor, a researcher should be able to carefully craft scientific arguments in writing. Scientific argumentation begins with research problems/questions and an appropriate conceptual basis in the form of a review of the right literature. Quality scientific arguments consist out of specific claims that should be developed and presented with internal consistency so that examiners, reviewers, and readers can easily follow the logic of scientific inquiry.

This workshop addresses the fundamental principles of argumentation and academic writing. It also addresses key concepts for guiding a well-articulated thesis or academic paper.

Guidance is practical and actionable, supported with examples that illustrate core principles of argumentation and quality in scholarly activities.

The workshop is tailored for emerging supervisors and postgraduate students at any phase of their research.

‍

An essential part of the processof developing scientific arguments is the ability to craft research questions and articulate research contributions.

This workshop addresses different types of research questions, how to develop research questions that represent the scope of a study, and how to articulate research contributions that align with study objectives.

This workshop is especially useful for emerging researchers and supervisors early in their research journeys. It also facilitates opportunities for participants to get feed backon the relevancy and scope of their own research questions.

Guidance is practical and actionable, supported with examples that demonstrate how one can develop and craft research questions and articulate contributions.

‍

Theory helps create capacity to invent explanations (Stinchcombe, 1987)1 . Using theory and developing an abilityto theorise are therefore central to any scientific endeavour.

This workshop offers basic and practical principles for mastering theory, reading theory, and developing skills in theorising.

‍

Academic writing is where scientific argumentation 'plays out' in writing.

In contexts where English is a second or third language for most, it is often challenging to develop and supervise academic writing.

This workshop addresses principles for developing and self-assessing academic writing. It also introduces linguistic devices for crafting scientific arguments and tactics to help emerging scientists grow.

‍

The scholarly reputation of many academics and institutions is at risk because of questionable science.

Questionable scientific practices such as predatory publishing, citation pollution, and plagiarism can corrupt academic evaluation systems, hurt professional disciplines, and lead to wastage of resources.

This workshop looks at questionable scientific trends, the impact of question-able science, and how to avoid getting caught up in these unscrupulous practices. The workshop particularly addresses the following key question: "Are you reading and using the right literature safely?".

‍

Any scientist, whether working in the 'hard' sciences, social sciences, or humanities, will at some point in their career have to deal with cross-cultural phenomena.

This workshop helps the scientist emerging ethnographers in particular prepare for and succeed within cross-cultural research situations.

‍

This workshop is tailored for emerging scientists (supervisors and postgraduate students) interested in doing or supervising qualitative research.

The workshop addresses principles for doing qualitative research, interpretivism as a qualitative research paradigm and principles of hermeneutics, with supporting case studies of how to deal with qualitative data in different ways.

‍

This workshop is tailored for critical researchers interested in learninghow to do critical and emancipatory research.

Postgraduate students and emerging supervisors may also find this workshop useful to help them negotiate challenging research contexts and to develop their skills in critical reflexivity.

‍