Triangulation in action

Mixed methods for exploratory research on civil society and the Internet in Indonesia

Yanuar Nugroho
PREST, The University of Manchester

Context
The research looks at the appropriation of the Internet by civil society organisations (CSO) in Indonesia. Studies
show that civil society has not been academically mature in theory and conceptualisation despite its richness in
activities, concerns and issues (e.g. Anheier, 2005). In the context of CSOs, appropriation means strategic, political
and creative use aimed at achieving social reform and social development (Castells, 1997; 1998). While studies have
shown more CSOs have easier access to the Internet, less study available on how they are using it not only in
developing countries like Indonesia but also in the developed ones (Surman & Reilly, 2003; Riker, 2001; Korac-
Kakabadse, et al., 2001; Bennet, 2003). Some studies have indeed been done about the Internet and various group of
civil society in Indonesia (e.g. Lim, 2001; 2002; 2003; Hill, 2003) but the study is not aware of any previous
researches which particularly and systematically researched civil society organisations in the country level.

Research Questions
The main questions are focussing on: what should CSOs do with the Internet now that they have access to them as a
networked technology? How CSOs can use the Internet strategically? What are the potentials and the challenges
ahead such an appropriation?

Triangulation in action – a report from fieldwork

Being exploratory in nature, the study answers the questions by gathering empirical evidences through triangulation
or combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches (Gilbert, 1992). Triangulation involves a complex research
design, usually with stages of research that may iterate (Danermark, et al., 2002), such as this case. Triangulation
may enable better measurement and may also reveal differences of interpretation and meaning (Olsen, 2003). The
study combined survey, in-depth interviews, network mapping, focus group discussions and workshops and overall,
including extensive pilots, was done during the period of September 2005 to April 2006, remotely from the UK and
on-sites in Indonesia.
Survey was designed to capture the nature of Indonesian CSOs in terms of size, type of organisation, main issues and
concerns and activities and to explore their technology use. There were two versions of survey, i.e. offline (postal,
administered from Indonesia) and online (web-based using Calibrum™ and automated Microsoft-Word™ form
administered from the UK). It was run between 15/10/05 – 15/01/06, targeting participants using the existing CSO
directory and finally was participated by 272 CSOs. From the survey, social network analysis (SNA) using Pajek
(Batagelj and Mrvar, 2003) was performed to provide a broad picture of the Indonesian CSOs and their networks. It
is also from the survey the study learns about the profile of technology use, i.e. the pattern of Internet use and choice
of strategic areas of the CSOs. Interviews were arranged during 15/09/05 to 13/04/06 with 41 Indonesian CSO
leaders or senior activists purposively sampled from the combination between their nature of activities (advocacy v.
developmentalists) and organisational structure (formal/centralised v. informal/networked) of CSO typology. The
study also made sure that the interviewees were representatives of the CSOs in the different position in the networks
(i.e. central, periphery and isolate). In some cases, snow-ball sampling was also used to follow-up information. These
were all meant to validate and provide additional support and also acquire in-depth insights. Most of the interviews
(31 of 41) were carried out over the telephone from the UK and some face-to-face in Indonesia. Each interview lasted
for about 90 minutes on average (ranging from 45 minutes to 120 minutes), recorded and transcribed for analysis
using Atlas.ti™. Both survey and interviews were carried out in Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) and were
designed to use simple language, common concepts and manageable tasks as cues in order to help informants to
provide as detailed information as possible for the study (Converse and Presser, 1986). During 1/03/05 to 10/04/05,
three workshops (each attended by some 30s participants) and four focus group discussions (attended by some 25s
in total) were organised in different cities and areas in Indonesia. The workshops and discussions served as
accountability measure of this research where researcher presented the preliminary results to the participants who
mostly took part in the study as respondents or informants. The events were also designed as means for verification
and provide opportunities for respondents to share views and collective reflection upon the issues. It was also from
the workshops and discussions that the participants shared and revealed more in-depth understanding and valuable
insights about the topics being studied.
The study benefits from the triangulation not only because it has comprehensive approach to the research but also
because it thus makes possible for richer interpretation and understanding from the field. (*)