Thought Ritual: An Indigenous Data Analysis Method for Research
Open accessAbstract
There is an absence of studies on discrete Indigenous data analysis methods in the literature on Indigenous research methodologies. However, data analysis is occasionally incorporated as an aspect of Indigenised research frameworks (, ) or, more often, follows emic academic techniques mediated by etic values and paradigms (; ; ; ). This chapter proposes a standalone Indigenous data analysis tool that is a hybridisation of ancient oral culture practice and contemporary thought experiment. It is grounded in Aboriginal protocols of communal knowledge production that are aligned with principles of complexity theory. This analysis tool represents a significant departure from western academic approaches, while promoting high levels of intellectual rigour. It also offers the intriguing possibility of examining non-Indigenous data sets using an Indigenous Knowledge process, potentially resolving the issue described by of quantitative data being, to date, largely ignored in Indigenous research.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Indigenous authors have noted inadequate attention is given to data analysis in Indigenous methodologies scholarship.
“Yet Indigenous authors have noted inadequate attention is given to data analysis in Indigenous methodologies scholarship (Yunkaporta & Moodie, 2021).”
From Decolonising Qualitative Analysis: Collectively Weaving Understanding Using Talanoa and Fa'afaletui Pacific-Indigenous Research Methods (2024) · cites this paper as Yunkaporta & Moodie, 2021
Talanoa and dialectical fa'afaletui data analysis resonates strongly with the 'thought ritual' method of data analysis developed by Yunkaporta and Moodie (2021).
“Talanoa and dialectical fa ' afaletui data analysis resonates strongly with the ' thought ritual ' method of data analysis developed by Yunkaporta and Moodie (2021) which is a hybridisation of Indigenous oral culture practice and thought experiment.”
From Decolonising Qualitative Analysis: Collectively Weaving Understanding Using Talanoa and Fa'afaletui Pacific-Indigenous Research Methods (2024) · cites this paper as Yunkaporta & Moodie, 2021
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Part of this paper’s reference list could not be split into single entries.
An Indigenous Philosophical Ecology: Situating the Human
Rose, D. B. (2005) · The Australian Journal of Anthropology · doi:10.1111/j.1835-9310.2005.tb00312.x · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Wright, S., Lloyd, K., Suchet‐Pearson, S., Burarrwanga, L., Tofa, M., & Country, B. (2012) · Journal of Cultural Geography · doi:10.1080/08873631.2012.646890 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Suaalii‐Sauni, T., & Fulu‐Aiolupotea, S. M. (2014) · Asia Pacific Viewpoint · doi:10.1111/apv.12061 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Mixing methods as a process towards indigenous methodologies
Botha, L. (2011) · International Journal of Social Research Methodology · doi:10.1080/13645579.2010.516644 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Hill, J. S., Pace, T. M., & Robbins, R. R. (2010) · Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0016110 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Elder, H., & Kersten, P. (2015) · Behavioural Neurology · doi:10.1155/2015/137402 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Wik pedagogies: adapting oral culture processes for print-based learning contexts
Frazer, B., & Yunkaporta, T. (2019) · The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education · doi:10.1017/jie.2018.24 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citationWalking in Circles: Self-Location in Indigenous Youth Violence Prevention Research
Gillies, C., Burleigh, D., Snowshoe, A., & Werner, D. (2014) · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Multi-agents features on Android platforms
Pintea, C.-M., Tripon, A. C., Avram, A., & Crişan, G. C. (2018) · Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling · doi:10.1186/s40294-018-0061-7 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [1][1] Zaccone, Sophie, Jamieson, Graham, Murray, Clara, Lock, Mark J, and Doyle, David, 2022, "Recasting Jung through an Indigenist approach to deepening shared knowledges of wellbeing and healing on Australian soils: a qualitative Landscape Research study protocol (Preprint)" JMIR Research Protocols 1929-0748 Go to this article
- [2][2] Tynan, Lauren and Bishop, Michelle, 2023, "Decolonizing the Literature Review: A Relational Approach" Qualitative Inquiry Vol. 29, No. 3-4, pp 498, 1552-7565 Go to this article
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Decolonizing the Literature Review: A Relational Approach
Tynan, L., & Bishop, M. (2022) · Qualitative Inquiry · doi:10.1177/10778004221101594 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Cutcher, L., & Dale, K. (2022) · Organization Studies · doi:10.1177/01708406221128376 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
O’Shea, M., Klas, A., Hardy, T., Stone, J., Frangos, T., Jacobs, T., Mitchell, F., Charles, J., Jones, S., Thomas, J., et al. (2024) · Australian Psychologist · doi:10.1080/00050067.2024.2322710 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Mafile’o, T., Vaka, S., Leau, K., Satele, P., & Alefaio-Tugia, S. (2024) · International Journal of Qualitative Methods · doi:10.1177/16094069241272241 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Pluralising the Planetary: The Radical Incompleteness of Machinic Envisioning
Richardson, M. D., & Münster, A. (2023) · Media+Environment · doi:10.1525/001c.87980 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Sivertsen, N., Johnson, T., Smith, S. E., Struck, T., Taylor, L., Briley, A. L., Cooper, M., Davies, S., Davey, J., & Brown, S. (2025) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/14687941251350883 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Investigating practical wisdom in complex system management: What is it and how do we get more?
Hallo, L., Nguyen, T., & Chileshe, N. (2023) · Systems Research and Behavioral Science · doi:10.1002/sres.2968 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Zaccone, S., Jamieson, G. A., Murray, C., Lock, M., & Doyle, D. (2022) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/36328 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Bennett, B., & Menzel, K. (2025) · Indigenous-settler relations in Australia and the world · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-92703-4_1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Decolonising Data Analysis: A Relational Approach Through the Kin and Country Framework
Bishop, M., & Tynan, L. (2025) · Indigenous-settler relations in Australia and the world · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-92703-4_3 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
An Indigenous data analysis framework of practice and Carmen’s Theory
Parter, C., Brown, S. L., Rix, E., & Wilson, S. (2025) · AlterNative An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples · doi:10.1177/11771801251360106 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Saunders, L. D., Alterator, S., Jukes, S., & Schutt, S. (2026) · Australian Journal of Environmental Education · doi:10.1017/aee.2026.10142 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Zaccone, S., Jamieson, G. A., Murray, C., Lock, M., & Doyle, D. (2022) · doi:10.2196/preprints.36328
Analyzing Data in Community-Based Research With Indigenous Communities
Giles, A. R., Stewart‐Withers, R., Hapeta, J., & Rynne, S. B. (2024) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003430339-17
Khurshid, A., & Marin-Velasquez, M. (2024) · Discourse Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education · doi:10.1080/01596306.2024.2416392
Waters, J. (2025) · Indigenous-settler relations in Australia and the world · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-92703-4_7
Duwalami Gung | Freshwater Meeting Place: The Waterfall Model
Meyers, O. (2025) · Indigenous-settler relations in Australia and the world · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-92703-4_17
Unearthing and Honouring Fungi Wisdom: Exploring Indigenous Research Methods Through MUSHROOMS
Phelan, P. (2025) · Indigenous-settler relations in Australia and the world · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-92703-4_15
Amazan, R., Thompson, K., Weuffen, S., & Lowe, K. (2026) · Pedagogy Culture and Society · doi:10.1080/14681366.2025.2603588
Relational Pedagogy: Embracing Indigenous Knowledge in Contemporary Education
Day, K., & Mcpherson, L. (2026) · Equity & Excellence in Education · doi:10.1080/10665684.2026.2612925
Women, (re)birth and collective wellbeing on Barkindji Kiira
Zaccone, S., Doyle, D., (Barkindji, M. A. B. Q., Kiira, B., Lock, M., Jamieson, G. A., Murray, C., Latham, V., Paulson, C., (Barkindji, M. T. Q., et al. (2026) · AlterNative An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples · doi:10.1177/11771801251405193
At the cultural interface: Colonial ideas in Zambia's contemporary early literacy policies
Hamoonga, L. (2026) · Journal of Early Childhood Literacy · doi:10.1177/14687984261419607
Buraalgamayi: Positioning Koori Approaches to Social Work
Harrison, C., Kennedy, J., & Keen, J. (2026) · Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1177/14680173261438403
Maher, J. H., Gray, D., Murtha, K., Bond, M., Uhlmann, K., Tulloch, K., Burkhart, S., King, T., & Stuart, L. (2026) · Health Promotion Journal of Australia · doi:10.1002/hpja.70169
Tonsing, S. (2026) · International Journal of Qualitative Methods · doi:10.1177/16094069261445007
First things first: Provision of basic needs is a critical foundation for health-promoting campuses
Weil, M., & Carroll, G. D. (2026) · Journal of American College Health · doi:10.1080/07448481.2026.2668023
Exploring the non-monetary value and practicality of home gardening in an Aboriginal community
Maher, J. H., Gray, D., Murtha, K., Uhlmann, K., Tulloch, K., Burkhart, S., King, T., & Stuart, L. (2026) · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · doi:10.1017/s0029665126103929
Learning when not to share: Refusal as a methodological practice of purposeful data disclosure
Johnson, M. W., Muñiz, J. O., Washington, L. F., Patrón-Vargas, J., Montes, P., & Walker, D. (2026) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/14687941261466564
Five barriers hindering country-centred planning and development in Australia
Roberts, G., Beban, A., & Scheyvens, R. A. (2026) · Australian Planner · doi:10.1080/07293682.2026.2718387
Taylor, K., Harwood, E., Clark, K., Groombridge, D., Brett, K., Law, C., & Crooks, K. (2026) · International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction · doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2026.106516
- Authors
- Yunkaporta, T., & Moodie, D.
- ORCID
- Yunkaporta, Tyson
- Venue
- Indigenous Knowledges
- Publisher
- BRILL
- Published
- 2021-02-08
- Pages
- 87-96
- OpenAlex
- W3133817328
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4
- FWCI
- 12.40
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- BRILL eBooks (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Australian Indigenous Culture and History
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Keywords
- Indigenous research methodologies, thought experiments, orality, community knowledge, complexity theory, indigenous knowledge, quantitative data analysis
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
