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Doing Research in Cambodia: Making Models that Build Capacity
One of the most important methods to help the public understand the difference between rumors and facts, propaganda and hard data is to give them the ability to conduct valid research and to disseminate these scientific findings within the society.
One of the most important methods to help the public understand the difference between rumors and facts, propaganda and hard data is to give them the ability to conduct valid research and to disseminate these scientific findings within the society. Shakespeare wrote: “To thine own self be true.” Following this line of thought, we need to know the truth about our society before we can truly know ourselves and our nation. After all, Cambodia is ranked very low in terms of innovation. According to a research project of Cornell University, INSEAD &WIPO in 2014, Cambodia ranks 106th out of 143 countries regarding levels of innovation. Moreover, the expenditure of the Cambodian government on research and development is minimal; 0.05% of the GDP was allocated to this cause between 2000 and 2010 (World Bank, 2013). The low levels of innovation is reflected in the low number of researcher in Cambodia. This number was determined to be 17 researchers per 1 million people between the years 2000 and 2010. Overall, Cambodian graduates lack technical skills and critical thinking and research at Cambodian universities remains mainly donor-driven (Kwok et al., 2010). Therefore, in order to act in our own best interest we need to gather reliable information from an independent media and the research community as the hallmarks of a society unafraid to face discomforting facts.
This research project explores research activities conducted by Higher Education Institutions (HEIS), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and think tanks, and investigates the individual and institutional factors that impact the culture of doing social science research in Cambodia today. This in-depth study pioneers novel approaches to research, including an ̳action research‘ component that involved training young Cambodian students to assist in the research design and data collection, and the construction of a national interactive database and online community bringing together scholars to collaborate and share publications and research opportunities. We also draw on a mixed-methods approach including survey data, interviews and focus groups from multiple sources - HEIs, NGOs, key government ministries, think tanks, major donor organizations –to illustrate the challenges and opportunities in Cambodia‘s unique research environment. Our results show that Cambodia‘s research environment is in transition. Most of the previous research on this topic utilizes exclusively qualitative methodologies, consisting mainly of case studies. This research project uses a mixed-methods approach to access textured qualitative data and triangulate those findings with quantitative data analysis, allowing us to draw meaningful conclusions supported by a large body of data.
We proudly present this report ―Doing Research in Cambodia: Making Models that Build Capacity ― with the hope that it will serve as a stepping-stone and as a foundation for future generations of researchers in Cambodia. The length of the report is influenced by the decision to include in-depth respondent quotes which provide a concrete understanding of the current research environment, as well as recommendations for further research and policy initiatives. It is our hope that this research project will contribute to the Cambodian research environment in transition, including encouraging training, funding and networking opportunities among researchers, so that young people will not only think of research as a set of academic requirements, but rather as an opportunity for creative and independent thinking.
This research project explores research activities conducted by Higher Education Institutions (HEIS), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and think tanks, and investigates the individual and institutional factors that impact the culture of doing social science research in Cambodia today. This in-depth study pioneers novel approaches to research, including an ̳action research‘ component that involved training young Cambodian students to assist in the research design and data collection, and the construction of a national interactive database and online community bringing together scholars to collaborate and share publications and research opportunities. We also draw on a mixed-methods approach including survey data, interviews and focus groups from multiple sources - HEIs, NGOs, key government ministries, think tanks, major donor organizations –to illustrate the challenges and opportunities in Cambodia‘s unique research environment. Our results show that Cambodia‘s research environment is in transition. Most of the previous research on this topic utilizes exclusively qualitative methodologies, consisting mainly of case studies. This research project uses a mixed-methods approach to access textured qualitative data and triangulate those findings with quantitative data analysis, allowing us to draw meaningful conclusions supported by a large body of data.
We proudly present this report ―Doing Research in Cambodia: Making Models that Build Capacity ― with the hope that it will serve as a stepping-stone and as a foundation for future generations of researchers in Cambodia. The length of the report is influenced by the decision to include in-depth respondent quotes which provide a concrete understanding of the current research environment, as well as recommendations for further research and policy initiatives. It is our hope that this research project will contribute to the Cambodian research environment in transition, including encouraging training, funding and networking opportunities among researchers, so that young people will not only think of research as a set of academic requirements, but rather as an opportunity for creative and independent thinking.