Abstract
<jats:p>The idea for this ‘cookbook’ was born out of our first workshop on Critical and Liberatory Methods for Research and Teaching in 2022 at Justus-Liebig-University. In an exchange between doctoral students and post-docs from social sciences, we discussed the diverse and context-specific requirements and challenges of our efforts to conduct research engaged in a transformative process and critical of domination. We also exchanged views on different methods, methodologies, and theoretical approaches. Much has already been written about critical research, and yet it remains a very individual question as to what constitutes ‘research that challenges domination’ in each of our own contexts and practices. Therefore, the idea of conducting critical and liberatory research is linked to what we envision as a relational and context-specific task under each researcher’s authority. In what follows, we propose a variety of ‘ingredients’ with which each of us can and must cook our very own dish. Each ingredient is presented briefly and concisely, and there are a few references to further readings, both under each ingredient and at the end of this booklet. Research is like cooking: By taking joy in the small stuff , with patience, attention, and ongoing practice, we become better equipped to face the challenges ahead. Recognizing which things suit us and which we need to attend to more in detail is one of the many secrets of good cooking. With these thoughts in mind, we share this cookbook with you in the hope that it will inspire future critical and liberatory research, expand our consciousness and awareness, and stimulate exchange for a future that is not at the cost of others.</jats:p>