i Parkia biglobosa - School of Forest Resources & Environmental ...

iglobosa. It is common for potential buyers to ask the price, inspect the produce, and
continue through the market without raising suspicion. I used this technique when
gathering the information on the prices and availability. I would then go home and
transcribe in detail the results of my survey. I conducted this in the local language.
Devereux (1993) states ‘learning the local language is a data collection exercise in its
own right’. One learns the fundamental basics to social interaction so important to
Ghana. From these observations, I began to conceive an outline for further study that
included informal interviews, formal interviews, group interviews, and simulations.
Informal interviews
An informal or unstructured interview involved an informant and myself speaking
on general topics. In Ghana, one always begins any conversation with a prolonged
dialogue asking after each other’s respective family members, work, and personal
condition. Sensitivity and respect are key to conducting an open dialogue (Devereux
1993). General topics would include the weather, politics, and local news. My Peace
Corps job assignment managing the community tree nursery presented an opportunity to
bring in the topic of trees. I wanted to learn and investigate which trees were important
and why they were important to the local community. I wanted to ascertain personal
preferences for trees, which trees individuals considered valuable, and how much effort
individuals spent on conserving those trees. I gathered information across a broad range
of local trees and their uses. During these informal interviews, I frequently would initiate
questions or narrow the conversation specifically to dua (Nankani for P. biglobosa) and
38