Through the process of research professors are able to enter an
academic conversation with goals that range from solving a
social problem to giving voice to particular communities.
Interviews, surveys and participatory observation serve as
channels that seek to deepen and broaden our understanding of
certain groups of people. What is done with the results of
months of data collection can range from a change in policy, to
simply sharing the findings with other academics. What happens
when research is conducted, policy does not change and
communities are left “damaged”? By using Eve Tuck’s desire-based
research, I will explore the ways in which research can either
give voice to or silence communities. Are researchers truly
giving communities a voice, even if the act of research is
simply a representation of their stories? Who is listening to
these voices besides the researcher and the academic community?
What is the purpose of research if voice and/or change are not
outcomes? In the article “Suspending Damage: