Non-Traditional Theses
Interpret your work using approaches that reflect your way of knowing and doing—such as arts-based, Indigenous, practice-led, or interdisciplinary methods. Collaborate with communities, peers, or transdisciplinary partners, and reflect critically on ethics, power, and voice.
Key Considerations
1. Explore Models of Collaboration and Co-Creation
- Investigate collaborative research models that are relevant to non-traditional theses, such as co-design, participatory action research, Indigenous community-based research, or arts-based collaboration.
- Consider different ways of co-creating knowledge while respecting community ownership, authorship, and contribution.
2. Maintain Academic and Ethical Rigour
- Develop practices to ensure interdisciplinary, community-based, or ceremonial research meets scholarly and ethical standards.
- Embed ethical reflection throughout your project, not only at ethics approval stages (e.g., critical reflexivity on your role, methods, and impact).
- Acknowledge and navigate tensions between academic evaluation systems and alternative ways of knowing and doing.
3. Navigate Ethics, Power, and Responsibilities
- Learn to recognize signs of supervisory harm or misalignment, particularly in non-traditional, interdisciplinary, or Indigenous research contexts.
- Seek support if issues arise, including graduate program resources, ombudspersons, or trusted mentors.
- For non-Indigenous students engaging with Indigenous ways of knowing, approach work with humility, seek community guidance, and respect Indigenous research protocols such as OCAP® principles (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession).
Resources and Supports
Library Resources:
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Sage Research Methods databaseOnline resource for exploring research design, methods selection, interdisciplinary approaches, and critical reflection.
Research Ethics Supports:
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Research Ethics at UCalgaryProcesses for ethical review of research involving people, communities, or sensitive materials.
Indigenous Research Supports:
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Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST)Specialized guidance for Indigenous-engaged research.
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First Nations Information Governance CentreOCAP® Training and other learning resources and guidance for non-Indigenous researchers engaging with Indigenous communities.
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CARE Principles for Indigenous Data GovernanceLearning resources and guidance for adopting CARE principles for researchers engaging with Indigenous communities.
- Last Updated: Aug 20, 2025 12:34 PM
- URL: https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/theses/non-traditional
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