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Respectful curiosity and humility is a cure

Ultimately, all you need to do to increase diversity in your research is act with genuine humility and respectful curiosity.

There are two main types of curiosity: humble and voyeuristic.

When we engage in voyeuristic curiosity, we overlay our personal biases and assumptions onto the subjects of our curiosity. While that can impact our understanding of personal interests, its effects on our research are irreparable.

Humble curiosity seeks to understand that which we know nothing about. It doesn’t presume prior knowledge or try to understand subjects in preset terms, categories and definitions.

When we engage in humble curiosity, we can gain a deep understanding of our research subjects without impacting our conclusions.

We all engage in both types of curiosity. We should constantly reassess whether our understanding is informed by the subject or our preconceptions.

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Cultivating Diversity through Research and Insights

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FutureLearn - Learning For Life

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