CACR lecture May 2025
Dr Usman Afzali shared valuable insights on conducting research with marginalised populations.
On the 2nd of May, Dr Usman Afzali, Lecturer at the University of Otago, delivered a lecture titled "Muslim Diversity Study: Insights into Building a National Study with New Zealand’s Muslim Communities." The event was opened by Professor Joseph Bulbulia, Director of our Centre, who introduced Dr Afzali and shared preliminary findings from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS) concerning New Zealand’s Muslim population.
Dr Afzali’s lecture centred on the development of the Muslim Diversity Study (MDS), a pioneering initiative launched to address the under-representation of Muslims in the NZAVS and to foster deeper engagement with Muslim communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. He detailed how the MDS emerged through community consultation and the use of culturally responsive research methods.
A key feature of the presentation was Dr Afzali’s discussion of qualitative insights gathered from research assistants involved in the project. He highlighted both the enablers and obstacles encountered during data collection, offering practical strategies for conducting ethically grounded and inclusive research with marginalised populations.
The lecture was especially valuable for researchers in cross-cultural psychology, sociology, and religious studies, providing actionable guidance for building more representative and community-informed research frameworks.