UKZN Webinar Features World-Renowned Qualitative Research Expert
The Discipline of Psychology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) hosted a webinar titled ‘Reimagining Qualitative Research’, with the highlight being an address by Professor David Silverman, a globally respected authority in qualitative methodology.
Silverman serves as visiting Emeritus Professor at the Leeds Business School in England and Professor Emeritus in the Sociology Department at Goldsmiths College, London, among other international appointments.
He has authored 15 books and more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles on qualitative research, ethnography and conversation analysis, and has supervised 30 doctoral students to completion, three of whom are now full professors.
Organised by senior lecturer in the Discipline Dr Adele Munsami, the event aimed to foster dialogue at a time when qualitative research continues to play a critical role in understanding the complex social realities of South Africa and the broader African context, while also marking the start of key research conversations for postgraduate students and supervisors for the 2026 academic year.
Welcoming participants, Dean and Head of the School of Social Sciences at UKZN Professor Federico Settler, highlighted the importance of rigorous and contextually grounded qualitative scholarship in addressing complex social challenges. Said Settler: “Professor Silverman’s thought-provoking contributions during this webinar align with many of our decolonial ambitions in the School of Social Sciences, and his insights and observations would have been wonderfully empowering for postgraduate students.”
Professor Sumaya Laher of the School of Human and Community Development at the University of the Witwatersrand provided an overview of the evolution and current state of qualitative research, highlighting the pioneering academics whose work laid the foundation for the field in South Africa.
Professor Kaymarlin Govender, Director of the Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division (HEARD) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal introduced the keynote speaker.
In his keynote, Silverman encouraged scholars to rethink conventional assumptions about qualitative research. He emphasised the value of naturalistic data, information generated through real-world interactions rather than interviews alone, and highlighted the importance of analysing sequences of social interaction to understand how meaning is constructed moment by moment. He also reflected on the active role of the researcher in shaping both data collection and analysis, urging emerging scholars to engage reflexively and analytically from the earliest stages of their projects.
The webinar attracted more than 350 participants, including postgraduate students and early-career researchers with a lively Q&A session creating meaningful engagement, enabling individuals to interact directly with one of the foremost voices in qualitative inquiry.
The event reaffirmed UKZN’s commitment to advancing critical, contextually relevant research while fostering sustained dialogue between students and scholars as they embark on their research journeys for the year.
Words: NdabaOnline
Photograph: Supplied
