@classmethod
def coerce_type(cls, obj, typedef=None, **kwargs):
    """Coerce objects of specific types to match the data type.

        Args:
            obj (object): Object to be coerced.
            typedef (dict, optional): Type defintion that object should be
                coerced to. Defaults to None.
            **kwargs: Additional keyword arguments are metadata entries that may
                aid in coercing the type.

        Returns:
            object: Coerced object.

        """
    return obj
