Research on witchcraft accusation-related violence

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Those who are in year 2 and 3 this year, I suggest witchcraft or sorcery accusation-related violence as a potential theme for your major research.

By now you all know that a key requirement of this program is research. In order to graduate, each student from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences must take two research units and submit a major research paper.

The research units are; PG317 Research Methods offered in the second semester for third years, and PG427 Data Analysis and Research Report. Both units are known as Faculty units and are offered across the semester to all students enrolled in the three full-time undergraduate programs.

Even though, they have the 'PG' code they are not units belonging only to the Department of PNG Studies and International Relations. Please note carefully this distinction.

You are all privilege to be taught research at undergrad level. When I was a student, I had no exposure to research methodologies.

Thus, I struggled greatly in my honors and masters program because I had no grounding. I spent a lot of time reading in order to understand how to do research and to help me distinguish quantitative from qualitative research.

It was a tough experimental process. I made a lot of mistakes and learnt from my mistakes. If I have the chance to study for a PhD, I will definitely draw from this experience.

Why I suggested the theme?

Firstly, I feel that this theme is crosscutting just like our program. You have politics at the domestic and international level in relation to our Politics and International Relations strands. It is cultural in nature and is part of our history in connection to our Culture Studies strand. The issue talks about gender and equity issues including social policies which makes up the Community Development strand.    

Secondly, the draft national action plan to address sorcery accusation-related violence recommends that more research is needed to help address the issue. The research recommendation talks about the need to:
  • establish an evidence-based framework to address sorcery and witchcraft-related violence in PNG.
  • establish a central research hub for communication and networking.
  • develop research ethics.
Thirdly, we are privilege to have Fr. Patrick Gesch and Fr. Philip Gibbs who have experience in doing research on areas related to the theme. Find time to meet with them and discuss the issue if you are interested.

I hope you will consider the theme and connect with the network of people and organizations who are working tirelessly to address this issue.

If you are free this Wednesday (23/5/2018), please attend the seminar presentation by our year four students. Leah Dimuda will be presenting her research titled:  
The social impacts of Sanguma practices in the local community life in Sogeri sub-district.
Screenshot of the program for seminar presentations.

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