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Qualitative Research Association of Malaysia
12TH INTERNATIONAL QUALITATIVE RESEARCH CONFERENCE
IQRC
2025
Embracing
Qualitative Research
in New Times:
The digitalisation of social research, data collection and data analysis
Now, more than ever before, qualitative researchers operate in a world where technology provides numerous tools at every stage of social research. If at first, these tools appeared to support the analysis stage, researchers refused to throw caution to the wind, insisting analytic software merely assisted with data management. The researcher as instrument stood grounded in their knowledge and power of how best to apply such tools in the qualitative methodology of choice. However, in the current scenario, the explosion of Artificial Intelligence deems it timely to evaluate the role of these tools at every stage: data collection, analysis and presentation. We need to remain cognisant of how, where and when a qualitative researcher responds to the inclusion of all A.I. tools. How do qualitative researchers continue to ensure thick, rich description and that interpretation is not thrown asunder as technology progresses? Therefore, the 12th International Qualitative Research Conference (IQRC 2025) provides a platform to consider, given the propulsion of A.I, how can we continue to embrace qualitative research, data collection and analysis through digitalisation, or do we refrain and retain our tested ways? The conference will focus on this timely theme seeking insights into how qualitative researchers may continue to uphold this epistemological challenge as we analyse the world around us.
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Conference tracks (but not limited to):
1. Qualitative methodologies in new times (phenomenology, narrative analysis, grounded theory, case studies, etc.)
2. Qualitative fieldwork in new times
3. Qualitative data analysis in new times
4. Qualitative philosophy in new times
5. Research considerations in new times
Sustainability Action
In our effort to act responsibly towards contributing to Malaysia’s pledge to sustainability and energy transition, IQRC 2025 will be organized with reduced waste and consumption. As such, we will not be giving out any conference bags during the conference. We urge all participants to please bring their own bags to the conference.
Keynote
Speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKER 1 (VIRTUAL)
School of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London UK
Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is a particular qualitative methodology which is focused on examining how participants are making sense of major life experiences. In recent years there has been a growth of interest in more complex designs in IPA studies and I will discuss these in this presentation. These developments connect with movements which are occurring in the social or human sciences more generally. However, IPA researchers are implementing research designs which play to the strengths of IPA and, as a result, we see a flourishing of a new corpus of IPA studies which are pretty distinctive in their contributions. I will describe each of these developments and illustrate them with studies I have been involved in. All are in the health and/or clinical arena. The approaches I will be discussing are:
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• Longitudinal: following participants through time.
• Multi modal: including data collected in a non- verbal form, for example participants’ pictorial representations.
• Multi perspectival: examining an issue through the different lenses of participants with different perspectives on the topic under investigation.
• Mixed methods: using IPA alongside a different method as part of a bigger mixed methods study.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER 2 (PHYSICAL)
School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University, Malaysia
I argue for the embrace of AI in qualitative research as it enhances research design, in particular, data collection and analysis. It also potentially transforms our notions of what it means to collaborative theorise. Integrating AI in qualitative research calls to question the ‘artificiality’ of Artificial Intelligence and the organic impulses of human intelligence. In recognising our human-AI interconnectedness, we cement our becoming as cyborgs which Donna Haraway theorised four decades ago in The cyborg manifesto (1985). To what extent can AI aid us as qualitative researchers in seeking more honest ways to confront our unconscious biases in a world that is becoming increasingly more fractured and divisive? How can we use AI to bring researcher reflexivity and reciprocity to the foreground in our encounter with human subjects of our research? How can we, AI-assisted, dive deeply into the rigours of data analysis within an equitable, diverse and inclusive ethos?
Pre-Conference
Workshop
Registration
Fees
The registration process is now open – registration fees are listed below.
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*The early bird offer ends on 31st May 2025.
Fees are the same for presenters and participants of the conference.
The registration fee includes morning/evening breaks and lunches for pre-conference workshop (physical) and full conference. The registration fee for virtual pre-conference workshop does not include any food and beverage. Virtual pre-conference workshop is carried out at participants’ own venue.
IMPORTANT DATES!
Deadline for abstract submission: 1st July 2025
Notification of abstract acceptance: 31st July 2025
Deadline for early bird registration: 31st May 2025
Deadline for standard registration: 10th August 2025
Pre-conference workshop: 21st August 2025
Conference: 22nd – 23rd August 2025
E-Program Book
Click on the icon below to download the IQRC 2025 E-Program Book:
[IN PROGRESS]
Watch this space for the upcoming E-Program Book
Sponsored
by
Co-organized
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