What is it about?
This paper reports on the challenges faced by two researchers during data collection and translation of data and analysis in two public sector universities in Pakistan. Data collection from each institute involved different procedures and a different set of issues, including negotiating access with gatekeepers and participants, dealing with teachers’ attitudinal issues, and getting consent from female participants. Challenges related to access to the institution, to female participants and recording permissions are discussed. Both researchers faced issues in translation of the key constructs with no equivalent lexical items in the context of study. It is further argued that awareness of such issues beforehand will help novice researchers be better prepared. Implications for novice researchers from Pakistan, and researchers from other contexts, have also been discussed.
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Why is it important?
This note shows that the main issues in conducting research in Pakistan include getting through the gatekeepers, getting across participants’ attitudinal issues, obtaining consent from female participants for video-graphic data, and translation issues. Therefore, it is necessary for novice researchers from Pakistan, and elsewhere, who are planning to conduct research in a university in Pakistan, to familiarise themselves with hierarchy of gatekeeping in each university context. It is advisable to select a university context wherein the researchers have personal and influential contacts who could mediate between gatekeepers and researchers. Secondly, while it is better to plan a study and contact the gatekeepers well in advance, things might not go as planned during actual field work. It is, therefore, necessary for researchers to make a realistic timeline for data collection with some time for contingencies, and patience for dealing with teachers’ delaying tactics in giving consent for classroom observations, and attitude interviews. Notably, in studies with a complex mixed-method research design that demand longitudinal commitment on the part of students, it is necessary to approach students directly in person to build rapport with them and obtain consent for participation.
Perspectives
Most importantly, in a study with video-observations as the main data collection source, researchers need to be careful in sampling female participants because students vary in terms of their beliefs and outlook It is necessary to be fair in sampling and if students with a veil have agreed to participate in the study but have reservations regarding video-recorded observations, it is important for the researcher to try to build their confidence by ensuring the confidentiality and anonymity of the data, and if possible, talk to their parents or guardians, or use some mutual relations, to obtain their consent. In cross-language research studies it is important that the researchers be aware of translation issues and seek opinion of other researchers with similar language competence. Being aware of the possible challenges and preparing for them accordingly can help novice researchers gather richer data in considerably lesser time.
Hassan Syed
Sukkur Institute of Business Administration
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A tale of two studies: Reflections on issues faced by novice researchers during data collection and analysis in Pakistan, Research in Education, November 2020, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0034523720970985.
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