Anna S. CohenMiller

Nord University | HIBO · Center for Teaching Learning and Technology

This article explores the intersection of education, economics, and culture during the COVID-19 period. The study aims to understand the challenges experienced by countries, focusing on analyzing education conditions through the lens of socioeconomic status in relation to COVID-19. This study integrates quantitative and qualitative research conduct...

Drawing forward stories are ways to address sensitive topics and become willing to be vulnerable to share withothers. Methodologically being able to critically self-reflect and find those transformative stories offers a meansto recognize our humanness in a global world (CohenMiller, 2024). As Arthur Bochner and Carolyn Ellis (2016)emphasize, in evo...

In the domain of research, where stories unfold,There’s autoethnography, a tale to be told.Traditionally, a qualitative approach, both personal and wide,Weaving lives and meanings, a cultural guide.Bochner and Ellis promoted the autoethnographic scene,Where layers of consciousness seem to intervene.Offering in their 2016 Evocative AutoethnographyA...

This article is dedicated to the late Michael D. Fetters—a giant in the world of mixed methods research, an exceptional researcher and scholar, a professor of family medicine, a caring and beloved family physician, a lifelong learner, a colleague, a mentor, a steadfast advocate, a son, a sibling, a husband, a father, and, above all, a dear friend t...

This article integrates arts-based research and critical self-reflective questions through embodied questions of having lived in Ukraine and Kazakhstan at the time the war broke out in 2022: What was it like to have left Kiev with a family amid the bombing with family? How has the adjustment unfolded? How can life be meaningful today, if at all? Th...

With a focus on coalition building, inclusive research inquiry, and decolonial practices, this special issue delves into the complexities of forced colonization, emphasizing the importance of grassroots community involvement and knowledge sharing. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the articles within this issue explore various aspects of the confli...

The origin of the concept “motherscholars” is a purposeful connection linking identifying as a mother and identifying as a scholar. In many parts of the world, for those working in educational institutions, being a mother is often hidden and not discussed. In particular, being recognized as a mother in the workplace in the United States and the Uni...

Have you ever wondered if through your research you could make the world a better place? Have you ever wanted to know more about how others conduct their research? In this groundbreaking book, Anna CohenMiller, multi-award- winning author and educational leader, eloquently fuses powerful stories of research with methodological insight and theory. E...

Learning from others is a key tenet for growth. This book is designed to offer important insights and opportunities for growth as we learn about the lived experiences of going through moments in the research process that made a profound impact on researchers’ lives. These “stories” contribute to the growing field of justice-centered qualitative res...

Section I: Awareness in Qualitative Inquiry discusses the importance of awareness in qualitative inquiry and its role in developing justice-centered research practices. It explores various aspects of awareness, such as self-reflection, understanding positionality, cultural biases, and power dynamics. The section highlights how becoming more aware a...

Chapter 2: Creating a Foundation in Qualitative Inquiry explores the importance of creating a foundation for justice-centered qualitative inquiry. It discusses the steps researchers can take to establish this groundwork, building upon self-awareness and self-understanding. Emphasizing critical self-reflection and reflexivity, the chapter highlights...

Section II: Vulnerability in Qualitative Inquiry discusses the significance of vulnerability in qualitative inquiry and delve into the various dimensions it encompasses. It begins by defining vulnerability as the act of sharing one's limitations in research and practice, with the aim of personal growth and learning for the greater good. Emphasizing...

Chapter 4: Recognizing Failures and Potential Risks in Qualitative Inquiry emphasizes the messy nature of research, the importance of critical self-reflection, and the recognition of diverse perspectives. It advocates for openness, humbleness, and a justice-centered approach that amplifies marginalized voices. By learning from these stories, resear...

In Chapter 7: Creating Balance in Qualitative Inquiry, explores the concept of creating balance in qualitative inquiry as a means of personal and professional transformation. It emphasizes the importance of critical self-reflection, reflexivity, and deep listening as tools for developing meaningful change in research practices. The chapter delves i...

Chapter 1: Knowing Ourselves in Qualitative Inquiry explores the importance of self-awareness in justice-centered qualitative research and offers strategies to enhance our work through self-reflection. It emphasizes the transformative power of knowing ourselves and its impact on understanding and respecting others. The chapter highlights the value...

This chapter, Developing Self-Transformation in Qualitative Inquiry, explores self-transformation in qualitative inquiry, delving into the theory and practice of transformative learning. It highlights the importance of critical self-reflection, vulnerability, and awareness in the research process, both inside and outside formal education. Transform...

In the conclusion chapter of the book, a strong emphasis is placed on three pivotal sections integrated with a call to action and critical self-reflection questions. First, the transformative power of self-reflection, vulnerability, and transformative learning is highlighted, urging readers to critically examine personal experiences and acknowledge...

Chapter 3: Seeking a Critical Perspective in Qualitative Inquiry delves into the significance of a critical perspective for promoting justice in qualitative research. It explores how a critical lens can be applied to our daily lives and integrated into qualitative inquiry practices. The chapter underscores the vital role of self-awareness and refle...

Chapter 5: Noticing Vulnerability and Potential for Change in Qualitative Inquiry explores the intricate relationship between vulnerability and change in qualitative inquiry, examining their impact on researchers, their research, and community connections. It underscores the significance of self-awareness and transformative insights as catalysts fo...

Section III: Transformation in Qualitative Inquiry explores the concept of transformation in qualitative research. It defines transformational learning as a process of critical self-reflection leading to significant changes in thinking and worldview. The section discusses the potential for transformative learning and growth through hearing others'...

This chapter, Learning from Others in Qualitative Inquiry, explores the role of learning from others to enhance qualitative inquiry and promote justice-centered research. It builds upon the themes of recognizing failures and vulnerability, emphasizing the potential for personal and research development through interactions with others. The sections...

Chapter 8: Building Meaningful Relationships in Qualitative Inquiry highlights the importance of fostering meaningful relationships in qualitative inquiry. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of research with life and the significance of connecting with fellow researchers, communities, and oneself. Various topics are discussed, including Indigenou...

POPULAR CULTURE IN EVERYDAY LIFE Popular culture remains one of the most important and powerful mediums to discuss, critique, and take seriously popular representations of gender, sexuality, race and the social dimensions/ideologies animating such representa tions (e.g., racism, sexism, queerphobia, classism). It intersects and weaves into our ever...

Creativity is connected with the prominent challenges of the 21st century, such as unpredictability and complexity of a fast-changing, globalizing world. Possessing creative skills can help young people to navigate through uncertainty and fast paced changes. Therefore, the topic of creativity has received considerable attention and been studied ext...

This study examines student experience in the context of their transition to remote instruction during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic with a particular focus on the gendered aspects of the student experience. The researchers conducted a survey in July 2020 at one of the leading universities in Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University. We sought...

mothers in academia, literature review, PRISMA, coding, gender equity and inclusion, social justice

We present the interdisciplinary CoWriting Kazakh project in which a social robot acts as a peer in learning the new Kazakh Latin alphabet, to which Kazakhstan is going to shift from the current Kazakh Cyrillic by 2030. We discuss the past literature on cognitive learning and script acquisition in-depth and present a theoretical framing for this st...

The COVID-19-related lockdown interrupted children’s learning progress and discontinued social learning and regular activities that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rely on socially and physically. Negative consequences for children with ASD were reported far and wide. To investigate this problem in Kazakhstan, we conducted a mixed-meth...

While researchers initially developed photovoice methodology as a means to hear voices of vulnerable populations and of marginalized experiences, using it in an online format has recently been adapted for application during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, I discuss implementing online photovoice in an asynchronous mode. I explore the potent...

Combining motherhood and academic work in higher education has been discussed for decades with the pandemic further exposing the inequalities. This crisis has significantly impacted the daily life of mothers in academia as they devote more time to keep their careers on track, produce papers, and take on other parenting and schooling responsibilitie...

In this collaborative autoethnographic piece, we present voices through critical incident technique replaying the same event at an academic conference, all seeking to understand how and why the disruption of voice occurs and what to do to counter it. We contextualize these experiences in the ideal of "sustainability of qualitative inquiry" through...

This international study examined how to support equity and inclusion for 18 mothers in academia (“motherscholars”). Applying Acker’s theory of gendered organizations as a framework for the study, we recruited participants from Facebook groups for women and mothers in higher education across disciplines and nine countries. To attend to the needs of...

What happens when focus groups are conducted in challenging situations across languages, cultures, and educational settings? What adjustments might need to be made? How can adaptations be made while still maintaining the integrity of the research? Drawing on a multi-year study of gender and schooling in post-Soviet Kazakhstan, this article brings t...

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis exacerbated inequalities in education. Socio-economic status and geographical location of a student has been an underlying factor behind the educational inequalities in Kazakhstan. According to the Minister of Education and UNICEF Kazakhstan (April 22, 2020) 300,000 children didn’t have access to technology and 7398 sch...

In this keynote, Dr. CohenMiller engages audiences to consider the ways in which equity and inclusion are at the center of becoming “better” qualitative researchers. Integrated within the session are self-reflective questions that can be used as tools for current or future research. Using an interactive format, CohenMiller encourages audiences to c...

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis exacerbated inequalities in education. Socio-economic status and geographical location of a student has been an underlying factor behind the educational inequalities in Kazakhstan. Transitioning to remote learning revealed the digital inequalities in education, such as lack of devices, quality of internet connection, an...

This paper analyses how secondary school textbooks enact gender in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. As a ‘gender paradox’, with universal literacy and yet a higher representation of women at the tertiary level co-existing with multi-sectoral gaps at the expense of women, Kazakhstan offers an interesting context to empirically investigate the taken for grant...

This work is driven by issues of gender equality, or lack thereof, in higher education institutions (HEIs). In this report, we focus the discussion on key findings about gender equality in higher education teaching and learning. Specially, we detail a study conducted at an HEI in Kazakhstan, extending research on gender in curriculum (CohenMiller &...

My participants suddenly can’t meet face-to-face, but want to text their responses to me. What do I do? In this chapter, this question as well as others are presented addressing concepts of moving research from face-to-face to virtual spaces. The chapter unpacks considerations for conducting research in online environments and using various platfor...

I know that the arts can help provide a way for participants to give their voice and enhance their agency, but how can I incorporate such a process in my own research? In this chapter, questions emphasize the concepts of arts-based research, collaboration, and co-production. The chapter speaks to conceptualizing arts-based research (ABR) in researc...

What does it mean to research across multicultural contexts? How do I best conduct research within and across such varied contexts? In this chapter, these questions provide a framework for reflecting back on the key topics embedded throughout the book. The chapter emphasizes the importance of non-judgemental, critical self-reflection as a means to...

While there is a known issue of progression of women enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields in Western nations, the same topic has been under-examined in other contexts. Focusing on Central Asia specifically Post-Soviet Kazakhstan, this chapter presents insights on the topic of gender equity in STEM in Kazakhstan. As s...

What is equity and inclusion in qualitative research? How can we maintain these ideas as embedded approaches for our work? And how can critical self-reflections support these practices? In this talk, I draw from our forthcoming book, Questions in Qualitative Social Justice Research in Multicultural Contexts (CohenMiller & Boivin, Routledge) to expl...

Is it important to work outside my discipline? How do I best work with others from different fields? In this chapter, the concept of crossing disciplinary boundaries is addressed, providing insights for qualitative researchers, particularly when considering multicultural contexts and academic and non-academic knowledge sets. The chapter speaks to e...

I care about social justice, but how do I create a project that incorporates this as a central tenant? In this chapter, questions are presented highlighting the importance of social justice research and transformational research. The chapter unpacks understandings for why to use transformative and decolonial research, the integration of participato...

What exactly is my power and how can I negotiate and mediate it? In this chapter, questions are presented to engage researchers in essential critical self-reflection about the notions of power in qualitative researching a globalizing world. The chapter raises awareness around often-overlooked aspects of researching with marginalized and vulnerable...

With COVID-19, motherscholars face expanded caregiving and lack of institutional policies, making attention to pressing gender-equity issues an imperative for "normal" and unprecedented times. Using Hofstede's (2011) cultural theory and Rich's (1995) feminist theory, this research addresses a historically-underserved population in higher education-...

In this chapter, we explore and examine the concept of rigor in qualitative research with a focus on the Asian context. We guide readers through considering the processes of qualitative research and reflecting on their own work, specifically regarding rigor. Through critical self-reflection, we suggest questions to consider to improve research prac...

This article highlights an experience of "failing" within a qualitative research study. Specifically, the authors speak to the failure of recruiting participants in conducting synchronous video and telephone interviews. Drawing from literature in business and examples from research method texts to demonstrate the cross-disciplinary concerns and ins...

This research occurred in a special context where Kazakhstan's recent decision to switch from Cyrillic to the Latin-based alphabet has resulted in challenges connected to teaching literacy, addressing a rare combination of research hypotheses and technical objectives about language learning. Teachers are not necessarily trained to teach the new alp...

In this presentation, I return to a research study with motherscholars I conducted a few years ago using the lens of creating a sacred space. The original study--involving six motherscholars living across three continents--explored the topic of reducing the conflict between being a mother and a scholar. It used participatory, arts-based methods and...

Photovoice is a participatory action research method allowing for hands-on interaction between lead researcher and participants. During "normal" times, photovoice allows for community development and deep meaning-making as individuals and a group. When normal times turn to those "of disruption," research likewise needs to change to address the need...

In this methodological paper, we examine researcher experience of conducting focus groups in the multicultural context of post-Soviet Kazakhstan. Focus groups involve many moving parts that need attention. This method plays a key role in research in cross-cultural research. As such, focus groups need special attention from researchers to learn how...

Since the early 1980s, the concept and processes of rigor in qualitative research have been discussed and re-evaluated by methodologists and researchers. Recognizing qualitative research as both a science and an art, autoethnography holds a unique space. This study reexamines an evocative autoethnographic study-the first to ever be conducted in Kaz...

This research is situated in a specialized context offering a rarely occurring opportunity for research questions and technical objectives about language acquisition. The Kazakh language transition from Cyrillic to Latin alphabet in Kazakhstan raises challenges to teach the whole population to write and read in the new script. We propose an unique...

Using evocative autoethnography, this presentation provides insights to the robust process of using this novel method to examine the development of teacher identity. (A related video is available that involves an interview and discussion between authors.)

This study applies heartful autoethnography to demonstrate the performance of being a mother in academia. As such, the article addresses (1) motherhood versus mothering, (2) the concepts of presentation of self, passing, and covering, (3) systematic bias mothers face in academic spaces, and (4) the ultimate costs of covering motherhood in academia.

Research methods courses can provide essential opportunities for graduate students to develop themselves as researchers. This article offers insights into the application of creative pedagogy and praxis for a graduate-level qualitative research methods class. Students learned and applied the innovative research method—gender audit as process and me...

For the full presentation and audio, see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmRBnVcBluo

Educational leader and qualitative methodologist focused on diversity and inclusion in education. Successful at managing international, interdisciplinary teams. Areas of expertise include arts-based research, gender equality throughout the educational pipeline, and teacher professional development. Proven track record of over 15 years adapting to t...

Imagine that you have eight days to teach introduction to qualitative research. What would you include? How would you present the basics? Which readings would you require? How would you keep your students attention throughout each 6-hour day? The challenges of such a condensed course can be stifling but the potential is immense. In this presentatio...

Worldwide mega-events have a significant political purpose, demonstrating various commitments to topics, such as energy conservation and gender equality. Gendered imagery at these major events can provide insight into an organizational or country perspective. The portrayal of people in imagery reinforces ideas and teaches audiences who are allowed...

This integrative review examines arts-informed pedagogy within early childhood education in relation to diversity and inclusion. Research suggests the arts serve as socially just pedagogy, appreciating diversity of student voice and experience whilst facilitating academic ownership and freedom to create inventive ways of knowing and learning. Arts...

This presentation provides an overview of initiatives addressing gender equity and social justice based on empowering individuals through media and information. Details of The Motherscholar Project (www.motherscholar.org) and The Consortium of Gender Scholars (www.gen-con.org) were highlighted.

This chapter examines gender audit as a research method for organizational learning and change in a higher education context in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. This study examined the gender-related practices evident within one key part of the formal curriculum course syllabi. The results of the study provide a first step toward informing gender policy at...

Mothers in academia (“motherscholars”), whether faculty or doctoral students, are confronted by structures and policies often impeding promotion and movement through the academic pipeline. While research has examined these struggles, such as our own research over the last few years, this study addresses these issues from a new perspective — wellbei...

Higher education is moving toward increased online and blended learning formats; however, finding useful resources for such teaching can be challenging. One useful device for integrating multimedia in online and blended teaching is the open video repository (OVR), which principally provides freely accessible curated videos and also often suggestion...

We are happy to present our special issue, “Criminals as Heroes: Problems and Pedagogy in Popular Culture,” guest edited by Kathryn (“Kate”) Lane and Roxie James. In this issue we explore the unique role that the anti-hero has taken in recent years. The changing nature of how criminals are portrayed in popular culture brings us a new understanding...

Key features of open video repositories are outlined, followed by brief description of specific sites relevant to the social sciences. Although most were created by instructors over the past 10 years to facilitate teaching and learning, significant variation in kind, quality, and number per discipline were discovered. Economics and Psychology have...

Embedded in interdisciplinary research, just as in disciplinary research, are statements of purpose, theoretical frameworks, research questions, reviews of literature, methodology, findings, recommendations, and more However, one of the least understood aspects of interdisciplinary research is the interdisciplinary research (IDR) theoretical framew...

Key features of open video repositories are outlined, followed by brief description of specific sites relevant to the social sciences. Although most were created by instructors over the past 10 years to facilitate teaching and learning, significant variations in kind, quality, and number per discipline were discovered. Economics and Psychology have...

Dr. CohenMiller is qualitative methodologist, who examines issues of social justice and equity in education. She uses arts-based approaches to encourage participant voice, to facilitate analysis, and to present results to reach a broader audience. Dr. CohenMiller’s research focuses on issues of gender in higher education and the workplace and on im...