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

As a researcher I had to recognize the possibility that people may be untruthful in
their responses. During Peace Corps Training, we (Peace Corps Trainees and
Volunteers) were often advised that Ghanaians wanted be helpful, friendly, and did not
want to appear ignorant, especially to a foreigner. When asked a question, a Ghanaian
may respond enthusiastically and positively, in spite of not knowing the answer. A
typical image is of a Peace Corps Volunteer, who after asking directions to a bus stop,
would be led aimlessly around for an hour by a helpful but uninformed Ghanaian. One’s
reputation often had priority over truthfulness.
A group not fully represented was the larger landholders in the community.
Often, they left the village and lived in the larger towns. I did not directly interview the
few large landholders and ask who could have access and at what cost to their land and P.
biglobosa trees. That information was indirectly assessed by my discussions with the key
informants.
Simulation
This technique is used to get participants to reenact activities out of context for
the researcher (Alexiades 1996). I employed this method primarily for observing the
preparation of dawadawa. The women I asked were older, trusted, respected women in
the community. Two of the women served on the primary school PTA and all three were
members of the local church. Their motivation for assisting me was so that I could bring
back this process to my family and home. I reciprocated by showing them how to
prepare soymilk and prepare American pancakes.
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