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Item Theory and practice in the field of race and race thinking: critical reflections for South Africa and beyond.(2010) Erwin, Kira.This article is primarily concerned with some of the dilemmas of doing research on race and race thinking in South Africa, and beyond. It examines the broader theoretical debates and concepts within the field of race and race thinking and makes an argument that as researchers we need to examine critically the rituals of research and how they interact with, solidify or challenge meanings attached to race. In particular it calls for discussion and reflection on how our current epistemologies and methodologies are busy writing future understandings of this social construct, and the limits of some of these practices on more inclusive state policies and structures. It also, ambitiously, attempts to move these macro theoretical debates into the micro context of the research process. It does this through examining how these critical reflections are played out or reshaped in the process of data collection and analysis; specifically in the way we ask questions, how we select respondents and think about the researcher's identity.Item Racial category membership as resource and constraint in everyday interactions.(2010-09-28) Whitehead, Kevin.The anti-apartheid struggle was characterised by tensions between the opposing principles of non-racialism (as exemplified by the Freedom Charter) and racialism (as exemplified by Black Consciousness). While non-racialism has become a central value in post-apartheid South Africa, tensions remain between the ANC government‘s long-standing commitment to non-racialism and its continued use of race-conscious policies and appeals to black nationalism. These tensions are also reflected in the writings of social scientists, who have questioned how we might "address a rejection of the actual 'existence' of races as well as the overwhelming existence of the social construct in having shaped – and still shaping – the life chances of citizens" (Maré 2001:80; cf. Posel 2001b:75-76). While questions of this nature are clearly important and complex matters for policymakers and social scientists to grapple with, I show in this paper that they are also lively concerns for ordinary people in South Africa – and that an examination of everyday interactions in South Africa can provide illuminating insights.Item Theory and practice in the field of race and race thinking: critical reflections for South Africa and beyond.(2010-09-28) Erwin, Kira.This article is primarily concerned with some of the dilemmas of doing research on race and race thinking in South Africa, and beyond. It examines the broader theoretical debates and concepts within the field of race and race thinking and makes an argument that as researchers we need to examine critically the rituals of research and how they interact with, solidify or challenge meanings attached to race. In particular it calls for discussion and reflection on how our current epistemologies and methodologies are busy writing future understandings of this social construct, and the limits of some of these practices on more inclusive state policies and structures. It also, ambitiously, attempts to move these macro theoretical debates into the micro context of the research process. It does this through examining how these critical reflections are played out or reshaped in the process of data collection and analysis; specifically in the way we ask questions, how we select respondents and think about the researcher's identity.Item The construct of white Afrikaner carguards in Durban.(2010-09-28) Dekker, Lydia.In a talk circulated on the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conferences website, Chimamanda Adichie (2009) a Nigerian writer spoke of the danger of hearing a “single story” of a people and consequently forming warped views of the group. She contended that the media and literature can create a “single story” of a group of people to such an extent that it prevents the readers from hearing the other “stories” that make up who or what the affected group is. In other words, when the media portrays groups of people from a single perspective, it denies the listener or reader the complete story or stories as no group is homogenous but rich in diversity:Item Academic honesty and societal transformation.(2010) Martin, Jeffrey.One of the particular challenges in creating a united South Africa is the continued discrimination levelled along racial, political and gender lines. An important aspect of this discrimination is the mental attitude present when assigning in or out group status to other individuals. Often, these implicit attitudes affect changes without even the conscious acknowledgment of their holder. Thus, the sense of identity an individual holds can play a significant role in their interactions with others. Using the paradigm of behavioural economics, this project sought to examine differences in the cheating behaviour of students based on their sense of identity, and the moral obligations they might owe an in and out group member. To this end, approximately 200 students were tested by either a black, or white, experimenter. The rates and severity of cheating amongst the participants was recorded, and compared in the case of each. Furthermore, differences in a number of other identity-forming factors were considered, including Age, Sex, Religion, Language Group and Qualification Sought. Although this study failed to reject the null hypothesis, numerous differences along racial, and other lines, were detected. The data’s greatest importance lies in the overall pattern of cheating observed, which indicates a significant difference between hypothesised identity formation and honesty in previous studies using this paradigm. Participants also proved insensitive to more pronounced security measures. The study has raised numerous interesting questions which clearly show the potential value of, and need for, further research on the topic of identity and honesty.