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ABSTRACT
This article seeks to adjust Western research techniques to accommodate research in the
indigenous realm. Indigenous knowledge systems require a different approach from
Western methodologies of collecting data. Indigenous people take pride in sharing their
knowledge as they ‘live it’ because it cannot be contested anywhere in the world. Sharing
it with a researcher does not change anything in their context. Indigenous research theory
underpins this assertion. Data was collected through qualitative approaches that involved
individual interviews and focus groups. The findings indicate that indigenous knowledge
systems have their own ways of conducting research through ways that may not be
palatable to Western methodology. This article recommends adjusting Western research
methodologies to suit research in specific native settings. The ‘one size fits all’ is not a
practical way of conducting indigenous research. As such, unless we embrace and
respect the people and their culture, researchers may only prove hypotheses and not the
realities of the phenomenon. Indigenous research methodologies will enhance finding new
worthwhile knowledge.
the best practice. Furthermore, sharing this knowledge with a researcher would
change nothing in their context in terms of understanding and respecting their
ecology, co-existence together with other species, and ancestral spirits. Re-
search was conducted in ways that may not be deemed palatable and the ‘right
ways’ by Western studies, but in order to gain access into the world of the
Lamba people, the researcher made use of approaches as dictated by the
community leaders in order to honour their ancestors and their present leader-
ship. In contrast to Western research methods which clearly differentiate be-
tween the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’, the Lamba culture did not respect these methods
and made sure that collection of data was conducted with respect to their cultural
practices, despite the researcher’s agenda and diligence in observing ‘research
ethics’ and research methods. In addition, the researcher had to adhere to tribal
protocol – the way in which things are done in this tribal setting – in order to gain
access to the research field. The researcher therefore had to embrace the
indigenous people and their culture in order to explore the realities of the phe-
nomenon of the lived experiences of the people so as to add a worthwhile
contribution to the existing body knowledge.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Why do tensions exist between the Western and indigenous research methodol-
ogies?
How can we bridge the gap between the Western and indigenous research
methodologies?
ETHICAL MEASURES
When the focus of investigation is on human participants, ethical implications
must be looked at carefully in terms of what the researcher intends to do with the
participants. The researcher therefore had to consider the ethical responsibilities
associated with qualitative research. Participation was voluntary and participants
were made aware of their right to withdraw from the study at any time, without
explanation or prejudice. Furthermore, the participants were informed of what
was going to happen and the effect the research process would have on them
(Leedy and Ormrod, 2013). In the study, all the stakeholders were given the
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6
necessary information about the aims, the process as well as the benefits of the
study.
respected by the community and they hold information that they alone have
access to.
The participants said:
“We all know what goes on there, but those are the custodians of that
knowledge. They give meaning to everything that happens in our villages. If
there is no rain, they know why and they tell us what to do, and when we
obey, it will rain.”
He added:
“How would you prove that you were well received if you go back empty
handed (Mukalabila shani ati twalyendele bwino uko twaile ngamu bwelele
minwe minwe)?”
Due to this tradition, after six consecutive days of data collection, the researcher
returned home with three live chickens, a bag of maize, a bucket of jumbo
beans, five litres of honey, and half a bag of peanuts.
Data presented above led to adjustments in the way research methodologies are
conducted in the Euro-centric studies.
Permission to access the community and selection of participants was very
sophisticated. The Lamba participants required the custodians of specific infor-
mation to divulge this knowledge, according to clans and according to the level
of leadership. Although the general Lamba villagers were generous with their
information, the Lamba leadership on councillor level insisted that specific
individuals provide further in-depth information, for example the shrine keepers
and rain makers and leaders of particular clans. The understanding is that the
shrine keepers have a direct connection to the ancestors, and as such their
knowledge of leadership is much more treasured and appreciated and is be-
lieved to be extremely authentic. Given the situation of indigenous knowledge
not being documented, the researcher understood the reasons behind the
referrals. Whereas in Western societies almost all information can be found in
written form, in indigenous settings information is mainly expressed verbally.
A further difference between Western and indigenous research methodologies is
that whereas offering a gift to the main informant is considered a form of bribery
in Western methodology, in the Lamba community, it is expected and valued that
the researcher bring with them a gift. This form of gift giving complicates this
level of the research process if researchers approach the community sans a gift,
in which case they will be sent home and will not receive any information. In
addition, in indigenous settings, the villagers have a responsibility to give gifts to
visitors (quite different from Western research methods whereby participants are
not expected to present the researcher a gift). Furthermore, within this setting,
the villagers also have a responsibility to ensure that the communities’ values
are upheld and that the ancestors are happy in the spiritual dimension. The
ancestral spirits are believed to be around their people all the time and pleasing
them by being kind is an aspect that is never forgotten and thus researchers
cannot enter these settings and attempt to change traditions. For this reason the
researcher feels that one can never fully understand the culture of the people
being researched unless one lives amongst them and practices it.
The concepts of anonymity and confidentiality were not clearly understood by the
participants and they all questioned it as they believed that if the truth is being
told, the one telling the truth must be known and not hidden. The participants
believed this to be an encouraging aspect of truthfulness.
The researchers suggests that research methodologies conducted in a Western
setting should be different from those research methodologies conducted in
indigenous settings as they are both worlds apart. Western methodologies trace
and document their history through written documents whilst the Lamba people
rely on conveying their history verbally, as told by the custodians who are the
leaders or the elderly of the community, who were also told by their elders when
they were younger. Triangulation of data is therefore complex as names men-
tioned in the ‘story’ might change depending on the state of mind of the person
telling the story at that time. However, the story generally retains its essence.
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10
RECOMMENDATIONS
The article suggests that the ‘one size fits all’ approach to conducting indigenous
research is not a practical one, and recommends adjusting Western research
methodologies to suit research in specific native settings.
CONCLUSION
In future, researchers need to be flexible enough to offer space for unexpected
experiences of the cultures and traditions of people in order for them to under-
stand why certain things happen the way they do, or else the indigenous world
will not be fully understood. It is hoped that a clear understanding of culture and
traditions will assist with resolving the uncertainty and tension that exists be-
tween the Western and Indigenous research methodologies.
ADJUSTING WESTERN RESEARCH TECHNIQUES TO ACCOMMODATE RESEARCH IN THE INDIGENOUS REALM
11
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