Don kicks against automation in academic researches

A professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Peter-Jazzy Eze, has kicked against the use of automation in conducting academic researches.

While describing the process as unrealistic, Professor Eze, who is also the President, Ethnological and Anthropological Society of Nigeria ,EASON, said that automation tends to eliminate the rigour and painstaking activities which are characteristic of academic researches.

He made the statement on Tuesday during his presentation titled “Qualitative Research and Methods,” at a workshop organized by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, in partnership with Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago.

“Automation maybe relevant in certain areas of academic researches but not in all. For instance, it can’t sit well in areas such as ethnography with particular reference to Participant Observation, because it is usually informal interaction stretched over a long period of time .

“In characteristic Participant Observation, it may last up to one year or more , please, I want anybody to show me how he can rely on automation to make sense of it.

“Algorithmization is the route through which mechanicalization creeps in. Biases are admitted because more familiar rigorous analyses are ignored or discouraged in preference for machine-assisted confinement of results to the expectation of fund-givers or other interested powerful social actors,” he said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, bemoaned the extent of plagiarism among dissertations and thesis of both undergraduate and postgraduate students of tertiary institutions.

Professor Okolie, who was represented by his Deputy, Professor Chike Nwoha, in the workshop tagged: ‘Research and Methods, Postgraduate Students Workshop,’ lauded the ESUT Sociology and Anthropology Department for organizing the workshop geared towards teaching students how to conduct academic researches.

He further re-emphasized the commitment of the ESUT Management in promoting research excellence and innovations in the University, adding that ESUT has entered into collaborations with reputable academic institutions for knowledge transfer and exchanges.

Also, in his remarks, the Dean of Postgraduate School, ESUT, Professor Charles Chime, while lauding the efforts of the organizers of the workshop, added that research is the cardinal point of ESUT Management.

While describing research as the backbone of academic excellence, he said that the workshop would enhance the research skills of the students of the institution, urging them to participate actively.

Equally, the Head, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, ESUT, Dr. Uche Ogbuke, while fielding questions from newsmen said that the workshop became necessary in order to correct lapses noticeable in postgraduate research works of the students of the University.

Dr. Ogbuke, who is an associate professor of Industrial Sociology and Human Resources Management, said that the department invited scholars from Chicago University, Manchester University, and Marquette University to broaden the scope of the workshop, adding that the partnership with the aforementioned universities would continue to thrive.

The workshop attracted international scholars such as Prof. James Robinson (Chicago University); Prof. Alessia Isopi (Manchester University); Prof. Chima Korieh (Marquette University) among others.