Abstract
This chapter aims to shed light on the significant experiences and challenges that have occurred during a university-funded project, exploring the dynamics of academic employment in the light of gender roles. The data for this mixed methods study comes from a research on Turkish universities, including 505 questionnaires and 46 in-depth interviews with academics from 39 different universities, located in 20 different cities of Turkey. The stratified sample of quantitative research represents the distribution of gender, department, managerial experience, position, and development level of the city, where the universities are located. In-depth interviews are used along with the survey to better understand the nature of academic employment and the implications of quantitative data. This chapter addresses the challenges, such as accessing the universities, ethical and emotional considerations, the effect of Turkish culture, censorship, and the ways that they affect the research process itself and the researchers.
TopIntroduction
It is uncommon for social sciences scholars to write on their personal research experiences, nevertheless that might not be the case with gender studies (see Pini, 2002; Wilkinson & Kitzinger, 2013; Chege, 2019). For instance, Wilkinson & Kitzinger (2013) discusses about the problem of objectivity in gender studies in the light of insider researcher concept. Additionally, Chege (2019) shares her research experiences and challenges as a pregnant woman among male beach workers. On the other hand, some studies are examining the issues that researchers face when they choose to undertake research projects that involve collecting data from universities (see Stavretis & Boucher 2001; Nobahar, Nobahar, & Hamidi 2014). However, studies on research processes have quite recently started in Turkey (see Oğuz, 2012; Şentürk, 2016). When the studies in the Turkish context are examined thoroughly, researchers can notice that the fieldwork of studies in Turkish universities has not been discussed yet.
Therefore, in this chapter, the author, as a member of the research team, presents her reflections on a university–funded project, exploring the dynamics of academic employment in the light of gender roles. Conducting a research on the gendered nature of academia and dynamics of academic employment, sheds a new light on some research issues, such as consent, censorship, rapport building, ethical considerations, and cultural barriers. Additionally, other challenges and commitments, the research team has to deal with during the data collection process, are discussed.
The chapter consists of five sections, and each presents a critical aspect of the researcher's journey while conducting this project. The first section covers the general perspective, objectives, and background of the research. It also presents some details regarding the research team and discusses the originality of the study. The second section aims to familiarize the readers with the Turkish higher education system and provides a summary of the system. The third section explores the methodology used, gives an overview of the research phases, and presents the initial challenges faced by the research team in each phase. The fourth section further presents the challenges faced by the research team throughout the different stages of the fieldwork, such as accessing the participants, dealing with ethical and security considerations. The fourth section reflects on the impact of Turkish culture on conducting research studies and presents the findings of the study. Finally, concluding marks are given in the last section. The intent is to help graduate students, and novice researchers smoothly conduct their future research studies in the Turkish context.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Mission Differentiation and Specialization Aimed at Regional Development: A project of CoHE and the Ministry of Development to increase the regional contribution of universities and promote them to specialize in specific fields by transforming into research-based universities in Turkey.
Triangulation: The use of multiple methods, theories, data and/or researchers in the research process.
Council of Higher Education: The main body, which is responsible for higher education in Turkey. It decides and coordinates the administrative and financial issues (e.g., student intake, appointment and dismissal of academic staff, supervision of university budgets, disciplinary issues, etc.).
Stratified Sampling Method: The sampling method, which is conducted by dividing the whole population into sub-populations, and then applying random sampling to each sub-population to select the representative samples.
Norm Cadre: The quantity and quality of the optimal staff that a university and its units need in order to carry out its tasks.
Ministry of Development: An organization, which plans and guides Turkey’s developmental processes with a macro approach and focuses on the coordination of policies and strategy development.
Mixed Methods Research: A form of research, which combines quantitative and qualitative research as such combinations enable confirmation or corroboration of each other through triangulation.
MAXQDA: A program designed to facilitate and support qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research projects. It enables to import, organize, analyze, and visualize various forms of data such as interviews, surveys, tables, pictures, etc.