Prof NRA Romm

Expertise

• Research in education

Qualifications

• 1986: D. Litt et Phil (University of South Africa)
• 1982: MA, Sociology – with distinction (University of Cape Town)
• 1979-1981: BA Honours, Sociology – with distinction (University of South Africa)
• 1975-1978: BA (University of South Africa)

NRF Rating

Currently teaching

Fields of academic interests

• Enacting research with transformative intent

Field of Specialisation

• Action/active research and engaged research
• Researcher accountabilities and responsibilities
• Principles of Indigenous research ethics (linked to a transformative research agenda)
• Facilitation of adult learning

Books

Books (sole authoured)

• The Methodologies of Positivism and Marxism (Macmillan, 1991)
• Accountability in Social Research (Springer, 2001)
• New Racism: Revisiting Researcher Accountabilities (Springer, 2010)
• Responsible Research Practice: Revisiting Transformative Paradigm in Social Research (Springer, 2018)

Books (co-authoured)

• People's Education in Theoretical Perspective (Maskew-Miller Longman, 1992, with V.I. McKay)
• Diversity Management (Wiley, 1996, with R.L. Flood)
• Assessment of the Impact of HIV and AIDS in the Informal Economy of Zambia (ILO, 2008, with V.I. McKay)

Books (co-edited)

• Social Theory (edited by N.R.A. Romm and M. Sarakinsky, Heinemann, 1994)
• Critical Systems Thinking (edited by R.L. Flood and N.R.A. Romm, Plenum, 1996)
• Balancing Individualism and Collectivism to Support Social and Environmental Justice (edited by J.J. McIntyre-Mills, Y. Corcoran-Nantes, and N.R.A. Romm, Springer, 2017)
• Democracy and Governance for Resourcing the Commons: Theory and Practice on Rural-Urban Balance (edited by J.J. McIntyre-Mills, Y. Corcoran-Nantes, and N.R.A. Romm, Springer, 2019)
• Mixed Methods and Cross-Disciplinary Research Towards Cultivating Eco-Systemic Living (edited by J.J. McIntyre-Mills and N.R.A. Romm, Springer, 2019)
• Covid-19: Perspectives Across Africa (edited by A. Fymat, N.R.A. Romm, and Joachim Kapalanga, Tellwell, 2022)

Chapters in Edited Books (Selected Publications)

• 2023: “Indigenous interventions, sociological understandings of inequalities and Covid-19”, in Critically Diverse Perspectives on Covid-19: Interviews with a Varied Range of South Africans, 70-81, edited by S. Dey and S. Chattopadhyay. Pretoria: UNISA Press & National Institute for the Humanities & Social Sciences.
• 2022: “Rethinking professional researcher involvement in community-engaged evaluation research: A case of adult education in South Africa” (co-authored with A. Arko-Achemfuor), in Reimagining Development Education in Africa, edited by D. Addae and O.A.T. Kwapong, 191-208. Singapore: Springer.
• 2022: “Collective action for regeneration of the web of life in the face of disruptive injustice” (co-authored with F. Adyanga), in Transformative Education for Re-generation and Wellbeing, 93-115, edited by J. J. McIntyre-Mills & Y. Corcoran-Nantes. Singapore: Springer.
• 2021: “Key roots and approaches to sustainability” (co-authored with A. Factor and J. P. Ulhoi), in Sustainability and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Lessons from Mixed Methods Research, edited by A. Factor and J. P. Ulhoi, 3-25. London: Routledge.
• 2021: “Research on small and medium-sized enterprises and sustainability” (co-authored with A. Factor and J. P. Ulhoi), in Sustainability and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Lessons from Mixed Methods Research, edited by A. Factor and J. P. Ulhoi, 26-47. London: Routledge.
• 2021: “Exploring differences in perspectives regarding mixed methods and transdisciplinary research: A dialogue” (co-authored with R. Hamann), in Sustainability and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Lessons from Mixed Methods Research, edited by A. Factor and J. P. Ulhoi, 154-174. London: Routledge.
• 2021: “Responsibly and performatively researching multi-species relationality”, in From Polarisation to Multispecies Relationships, edited by J.J. McIntyre-Mills and Y. Corcoran-Nantes, 223-260. Cham (Switzerland): Springer.
• 2021: “Prospects for sustainable living with focus on interrelatedness, interdependence and mutuality: Some African perspectives” (co-authored with P. V. Lethole), in From Polarisation to Multispecies Relationships, edited by J.J. McIntyre-Mills and Y. Corcoran-Nantes, 87-114. Cham: Springer.
• 2021: “Systemic praxis: Steps towards regeneration” (co-authored with J. McIntyre-Mills, A. Achemfuor and J. Karel), in From Polarisation to Multispecies Relationships, 615-644, edited by J. McIntyre-Mills and Y. Corcoran-Nantes. Cham: Springer.
• 2021: “The relationship between people and natural history” (co-authored with T. A. Nguyen, published in Vietnamese), in Ecology and Developing an Ecological Society in Vietnam (Sinh thái và phát triển xã hội sinh thái ở Việt Nam), 306-326, edited by T.Q. Hoc. Hanoi: Hanoi National University Press.
• 2021: “Access to sustainable development and responding to climate change” (co-authored with H.T.N. Ha and L. Mabon, published in Vietnamese), in Ecology and Developing an Ecological Society in Vietnam (Sinh thái và phát triển xã hội sinh thái ở Việt Nam), 640-714, edited by T.Q. Hoc. Hanoi: Hanoi National University Press.
• 2021: “Towards an ecological society in Vietnam” (co-authored with T.Q. Hoc and N.D. Son, published in Vietnamese), in Ecology and Developing an Ecological Society in Vietnam (Sinh thái và phát triển xã hội sinh thái ở Việt Nam), 879-929, edited by T.Q. Hoc. Hanoi: Hanoi National University Press.
• 2020: “(Re)considering Information Science research: Embracing transformative intent” (co-authored with P. Ngulube), in Handbook of Research on Connecting Research Methods for Information Science Research, edited by P. Ngulube, 286-306. Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global
• 2019: “Conducting focus groups in terms of an appreciation of Indigenous ways of knowing: Invoking an Indigenous-oriented paradigm”, in Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences, edited by P. Liamputtong, 1795-1809. Singapore: Springer.
• 2019: “Introduction: Summary of the papers and relevance of mixed methods for resourcing the commons” (co-authored with J. McIntyre-Mills), in Democracy and Governance for Resourcing the Commons: Theory and Practice on Rural-Urban Balance, edited by J. McIntyre-Mills, N.R.A. Romm, and Y. Corcoran-Nantes, 5-37. Cham (Switzerland): Springer.
• 2019: “Researching the impact of the South African Kha Ri Gude mass literacy campaign: Considering the support for those otherwise marginalised in economic, social, and political life” (co-authored with V. McKay), in Democracy and Governance for Resourcing the Commons: Theory and Practice on Rural-Urban Balance, edited by J. McIntyre-Mills, N.R.A. Romm, and Y. Corcoran-Nantes, 371-411. Cham (Switzerland): Springer.
• 2019: “Conclusion: Potential for transformative research to address risks” (co-authored with J. McIntyre-Mills), in Democracy and Governance for Resourcing the Commons: Theory and Practice on Rural-Urban Balance, edited by J. McIntyre-Mills, N.R.A. Romm, and Y. Corcoran-Nantes, 461-472. Cham (Switzerland): Springer.
• 2019: “Ubuntu, environmental protection and education” (co-authored with K. Quan-Baffour and J. McIntyre-Mills). In Mixed methods and Cross-Disciplinary Research Towards Cultivating Eco-Systemic Living, edited by J. McIntyre-Mills and N.R.A. Romm, 223-252. Cham (Switzerland): Springer.
• 2019: “Ethical Issues in adult education research: Beyond the Belmont model” (co-authored with M. Claassens). In Adult, Continuing and Lifelong Education and Development in Africa, edited by A. Arko-Achemfuor, K.P. Quan-Baffour and D. Addae, 49-65. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
• 2017: “Social Dominance Theory”. Entry for the Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory, edited by Bryan S. Turner et al. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Inc. (DOI: 10.1002/9781118430873).
•  2017: “Researching Indigenous ways of knowing-and-being”, in Handbook of Research on Theoretical Perspectives on Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Developing Countries, edited by P. Ngulube, 22-48. Pennsylvania: IGI Global publications.
• 2017: “Rethinking discipline” (co-authored with V.I. McKay and S. Mohapi), in Re-aligning the Curriculum, edited by M. Magano, D. Robertson and S. Mohapi, 250-270.  Boston: Cengage.
•  2017: “Foregrounding critical systemic and indigenous ways of collective knowing towards (re)directing the anthropocene”, in Balancing Individualism and Collectivism to Support Social and Environmental Justice, edited by J. McIntyre-Mills, Y.C. Nantes, and N.R.A. Romm, 1-18, New York: Springer. A podcast conversation around this chapter as related to that of Francis Akena in the same volume can be found at: https://archive.org/details/NormaRommAndFrancisAkena.
• 2015: “Mixed methods research” (co-authored with P. Ngulube), in Addressing Research Challenges, edited by M. Gumbo and E. Mathipa, 158-176, Johannesburg: Mosala-Masedi Publishers.
• 2010: “Capacity building for educators of adults in three Southern African countries: South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia” (co-authored with Veronica McKay, with contribution by Herman Kotze), in: More and Better Education: What Makes Effective Learning in African Literacy Programs?, 417-478, Hamburg: ADEA/UNESCO UIE.
• 2007: “Issues of accountability in survey, ethnographic, and action research”, in Challenges and Responsibilities of Social Research in Africa: Ethical Issues, 51-76, edited by A. Rwomire and F. Nyamnjoh, Addis Ababa: The Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA).
•  2006: “The social significance of Churchman’s epistemological position” in Rescuing the Enlightenment from Itself, edited by J. McIntyre, 68-92. New York: Springer.       
• 2006: “An exploration and extension of Churchman’s insights towards the tackling of racial discrimination as a world problem”, in Rescuing the Enlightenment from Itself, edited by J. McIntyre, 289-331. New York: Springer.
• 2004: “Facilitation as fair intervention” (co-authored with Wendy Gregory), in Community Operational Research, edited by A. Ochoa-Arias and G. Midgley, 157-174. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
• 2003: “Inquiry and intervention in systems planning: Probing methodological rationalities”, in Critical Systems Thinking and Systemic Perspectives on Ethics, Power and Pluralism (Volume 4), edited by G. Midgley, 143-153. London: Sage.
• 2001: “Cultural incongruity in changing Africa” (co-authored with Anthonia Adindu), in Africa's Development Crisis, edited by A. Rwomire, 53-69. Westport, CT: Praeger.
• 1997: “From metatheory to multi-methodology” (co-authored with R.L. Flood), in Multi-methodology, edited by T. Gill and J. Mingers, 291-322. Chichester: Wiley.
• 1997: “Implications of regarding information as meaningful rather than factual”, in Philosophical Aspects of Information Systems, edited by S. Probert and R. Winder, 23-34. London: Taylor and Francis Press.
• 1996: “Towards multi-agency dialogue: Facilitation as fair education” (co-authored with W. Gregory), in Praxiology (vol.4), edited by W.W. Gasparski, M.K. Mlicki and B.H. Banathy, 323-351. New Brunswick: Transaction.
• 1996: “Critical theory as a way to understand development”, in Reconstruction, Development and People, edited by J. Coetzee and J. Graaff, 196-22. Johannesburg: International Thomson.
• 1996: “Reflections on an action research project: Women and the law in Southern Africa”, in Critical Systems Thinking: Current Research and Practice, edited by R.L. Flood and N.R.A. Romm, 251-270. New York: Plenum.
• 1996: “Systems methodologies and intervention: The issue of researcher responsibility”, in Critical Systems Thinking: Current Research and Practice, edited by R.L. Flood and N.R.A. Romm, 179-193. New York: Plenum.
• 1995: “Participation in defining Tanzanian realities”, in The Tanzanian Peasantry: Further Studies, edited by P. Forster and S. Maghimbi, 3-22. Aldershot: Gower.

Journal articles

• An Indigenous relational approach to systemic thinking and being: Focus on participatory onto-epistemology. Systemic Practice and Action Research (doi: 10.1007/s11213-024-09672-4).
• 2024: Systemically-directed Knowledge Management for public and private organisational life: Some perspectives from South Africa (co-authored with B. I. Nkambule). Journal of Applied Systemic Studies (doi: 10.1504/IJASS.2023.10060003).
• 2024: A gender sensitive approach to uniting indigenous views on natural law with relational governance for protecting the commons (co-authored with J. J. McIntyre-Mills, M. Makaulule, P. Lethole, E. Pitsoane, B. Mabunda, T. C. Mbodi, V. Luxomo, H. Mothudi, F. Makahane, and V. Ṋetshandama. Journal of the International Society for the Systems Sciences: Proceedings of the 67th Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (held in 2023), 1-30.
• 2024: Story telling to foster emotional intelligence, distributive leadership and multispecies relationships (co-authored with J. J. McIntyre-Mills, M. Makaulule, P. Lethole, E. Pitsoane, and B. Mabunda. Journal of the International Society for the Systems Sciences | Proceedings of the 67th Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (held in 2023), 1-20.
• 2023: Reflections on the value of mixed focus groups with adult learner research participants: Exploring gender disparities and gendered relationships (co-authored with X. Tawana). Participatory Educational Research, 10, 1: 290-309.
• 2023: Systemic thinking for re-generative development (co-authored with J. J. McIntyre-Mills). Journal of Systems Thinking (Sept. 2023): 1-11.
• 2023: Together we can grow: Resourcing the commons through pathways to wellbeing (co-authored with R. Wirawan, J. J. McIntyre‑Mills, M. Makaulule, P. V. Lethole, E. Pitsoane, and A. Arko‑Achemfuor). Systemic Practice and Action Research 36, 5: 641-690.
• 2023: Towards eco-systemic living: Learning with Indigenous leaders in Africa and Indonesia through a community of practice (co-authored with J. J. McIntyre-Mills, P. V. Lethole, M. Makaulule, R. Wirawan, and I. Widianingsih). Systems Research and Behavioural Science 40, 5: 779-786.
• 2022: African Youth’s visioning for re-inventing democracy in the digital era: A case of use of Structured Dialogical Design (co-authored with Y. Laouris). World Futures, 78, 1: 18-61.
• 2022: Structured dialogical design as a problem structuring method illustrated in a Re-invent democracy project (co-authored with Y. Laouris). European Journal of Operational Research, 301, 3: 1072-1087.
• 2022: Reflections upon our way of invoking an indigenous paradigm to co-explore community mobilisation against irresponsible practices of foreign-owned companies in Nwoya District, Uganda (co-authored with F. A. Adyanga). The Qualitative Report, 27, 7: Art. 13.
• 2022: Knowledge management for effective and ethical management of public schools: Perspectives from South Africa (co-authored with B.I. Nkambule). Participatory Educational Research, 9, 3: 166-179.
• 2022: Together we can grow: Resourcing the commons through pathways to wellbeing (co-authored with R. Wirawan, J. J. McIntyre‑Mills, M. Makaulule, P. V. Lethole, E. Pitsoane, & A. Arko‑Achemfuor). Systemic Practice and Action Research (online first): https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-022-09613-z.
• 2020: Justifying research as conscious intervention in social and educational life: Activating transformative potential. Educational Research for Social Change, 9, 2: 1-15.
• 2020: Eliciting children’s/young people’s (group) engagement with scenarios as participatory research practice for exploring and extending responses to climate change. Participatory Educational Research, 7, 1: i-xiv.
• 2020: Reflections on a post-qualitative inquiry with children/young people: Exploring and furthering a performative research ethics. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 21, 1: Art 6.
• 2020: Systemic research practices towards the development of an eco-community in Vietnam: Some joint post-facto reflections (co-authored with H.T.N. Hoang). Systemic Practice and Action Research, 33, 6: 599-624.
• 2019: Academic-practitioner collaboration with communities towards social and ecological transformation (co-authored with A. Arko-Achemfuor & L. Serolong). International Journal of Transformative Research, 6,1:1-9.
•  2019: Efforts to inspire transformative research with farmers in a small town in the North West Province of South Africa (co-authored with J. McIntyre-Mills, A. Arko-Achemfuor, J. Karel, & L. Serolong). International Journal of Transformative Research, 6,1:10-19.
• 2019: Duoethnographic Storying around involvements in, and extension of the meanings of, engaged qualitative research (co-authored with L.D.N. Tlale). Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 20, 1: Art. 7.
• 2019: Book Review of “Social Ecology in the Digital Age: Solving Complex Problems in a Globalized World (2018)”, by Daniel Stokols. (Review co-authored with McIntyre-Mills). Systemic Practice and Action Research, 32, 3: 353-357. 
• 2018: Reflections on a multi-layered intervention in the South African public education system: Some ethical implications for Community Operational Research. European Journal of Operational Research, 268, 3: 971-983.
• 2018: Systemic thinking and practice toward facilitating inclusive education: Reflections on a case of co-generated knowledge and action in South Africa (co-authored with L.D.N. Tlale). Systemic Practice and Action Research, 31: 105-120.
• 2018: A systemic approach to processes of power in learning organisations: part I – literature, theory, and methodology of triple loop learning (co-authored with R. L. Flood). The Learning Organization, 25, 4: 260-272.
• 2018: A systemic approach to processes of power in learning organisations: part II – triple loop learning and a facilitative intervention in the ‘500 Schools Project’ (co-authored with R. L. Flood). The Learning Organization, 25, 5: 344-352.
• 2016: Guest editorial for the special issue of South African Review of Sociology, entitled Research processes directed towards social development, 47, 1: 1-4.
• 2016: Nurturing research relationships: Showing care and catalysing action in a South African school research-and-intervention project (co-authored with L.D.N. Tlale), South African Review of Sociology, 47, 1: 18-37.
• 2015: Reviewing the transformative paradigm: A critical systemic and relational (indigenous) lens. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 28: 411-427.
• 2015: Conducting focus groups in terms of an appreciation of indigenous ways of knowing: Some examples from South Africa. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 16, 1: Article 2. 
• 2015: Reflections on focus groups sessions held with teachers regarding inclusive education: Reconsidering focus group research possibilities (co-authored with N. Nel and L.D.N. Tlale), Australian Educational Researcher, 42, 1: 35-53.
• 2015: Narratives of agency: The experiences of Braille literacy practitioners in the Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign (co-authored with V.I. McKay), International Journal of Inclusive Education, 19, 4: 435-456.
• 2015: Ubuntu-inspired training of adult literacy teachers as a route to generating “community” enterprises (co-authored with K.P. Quan-Baffour), Journal of Literacy Research, 46, 4: 455-474. For a podcast presentation please see: http://www.voiceofliteracy.org/
• 2015: Assessing the Kha Ri Gude mass literacy campaign: Linking developmental evaluation with research (co-authored with M.M. Dichaba), Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 55, 2: 220-241.
• 2015: Development of technological efficacy via an e-learning programme: South African parliament employees (co-authored with F. Mbuli). Participatory Educational Research, 2, 3: 1-11.
• 2014: Exploration of transformative paradigm with pragmatic twist to contribute to educational change. International Journal on New Trends in Education and their Implications, 5, 2: 134-144. 
• 2014: Active and accountable social inquiry: Implications and examples. Participatory Educational Research, 1, 2: 13-20. 
• 2013: Revisiting Social Dominance Theory: Invoking a more retroductively-oriented approach to systemic theorising. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 26, 2: 111-129.
• 2013: Employing questionnaires in terms of a constructivist epistemological stance: Reconsidering researchers’ involvement in the unfolding of social life. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 12: 652-669. 
• 2008: Active research towards the addressal of HIV/AIDS in the informal economy in Zambia: Recognition of complicity in unfolding situations (co-authored with V.I. McKay), Action Research (Special Issue on Development) 6, 2: 149-170.
• 2008: A systemic approach to addressing HIV/AIDS in the informal economy in Zambia: Methodological pluralism revisited (co-authored with V. McKay), International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies,1, 4: 375-397.
• 2002: A Trusting Constructivist approach to systemic inquiry: Exploring accountability, Systems Research and Behavioral Science,19, 5: 455-467.
• 2002: Reconsidering the exploration of power distance: An active case study approach (co-authored with C-Y. Hsu, Omega, 30, 6: 403-414.
• 1998. Interdisciplinary practice as reflexivity. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 11(1): 63-77.
• 1997. Becoming more accountable. Sociological Research Online. Available at http://www.socresonline.org.uk/socresonline/2/3/2.html.
• 1996. Inquiry-and-intervention in systems planning: Probing methodological rationalities. World Futures, 47: 25-36.
• 1995. Knowing as intervention: Reflections on the application of systems ideas, Systems Practice, 8, 2: 137-167.
• 1983: Habermas's critique of the positivist distinction between facts and values: The relevance of this critique for sociology, Research Bulletin of the HSRC, 13, 8: 43-46

Paper presentations

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

• Member of: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa (SASA); International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS); International Sociological Association (ISA); Future Worlds Centre (FWC); Mixed Methods International Research Association (MMIRA).
• Associate of the Taos Institute (Creating Promising Futures Through Social Construction).
• 2022: Women in Research Leadership Award for Excellence in Research, given by the University of South Africa (April 2022).
• 2016: Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in Research Award, given by the University of South Africa (March 2016).
• 2015: Award (plaque) given by the University of South Africa in recognition of being rated by South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) for being an established researcher in the fields of researcher accountability, responsible research practice, and constructivist epistemology. (NRF re-rating was achieved in 2021 for being internationally recognised for her focus on transformative research and the Indigenous paradigm.)

Projects

Other

Prof Norma Romm holds a DLitt et Phil in Sociology (1986). Her doctoral research was concerned with exploring different interpretations of Marx’s methodological position – with reference to debates around scientific Marxism and (more humanistic) critical theory. Norma has worked for various universities, including the Unisa Sociology Department (where she was Associate Professor of Sociology), Unisa Department of Adult, Community and Continuing Education (Professor), University of Swaziland (Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences), University of Hull, UK (Deputy Director of the Centre for Systems Studies), and European University Cyprus (Professor of Sociology and Dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities). She has also engaged in commissioned contracted research work for various organisations such as the International Labour Organisation, Association for the Development of Education in Africa, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Organisation for Migration.

She has authored, co-authored, and co-edited several books and has published over 100 research articles, dealing with issues such as: learner-centred education; increasing the capacity of adult educators; social development; community operational research; social theorising in relation to development; the facilitation of co-learning in group processes; social and ecological justice; considerations of racism as a world problem; discursive accountability; systemic inquiry; transformative and Indigenous paradigms for social research; and innovative ways for researchers (professional and others) to exercise accountability in research processes as well as in the write-up thereof.

Over the course of her career, Norma has supervised dozens of Master’s and Doctoral students. Topics of supervisees have been very varied, including fields of Sociology, Social Theory, Management (Theory and Practice), Education, Setting up Learning Processes, Social Development, and Systemic Thinking and Practice. Research methodologies used by students have also been very varied, including library research, survey research (with attention to considering how questionnaires may themselves be influential in shaping respondents’ understandings), interviewing (combined with semi-structured questionnaires), focus groups, active intensive interviewing (individual and group interviewing), and (different types of) action research. (Innovative combinations of various approaches have also been used, with students being guided to justify choices of procedure – to themselves and to audiences.)

When conducting research projects, Norma believes in applying multi- and inter-disciplinary orientations to the exploration of social and ecological issues, so as to increase the range of perspectives and the range of our thinking about possible options for action in relation to concerns raised.