CIVIL SOCIETY IN PEACEBUILDING - A Case Study Analysis of ...

6.3 Critical approach to the sourcesIt is important to critically review the material that is being used. When material is not capturedthrough direct observations of participation, a critical outlook of the sources is acquired. The collectionof the secondary-, or even primary data, should not be seen as a simple collection of facts, but also asinformation that has been interpreted for a cause (Alvesson & Sköldberg 2008:325). A source can bedefined as units for a researcher to use in order to receive information about a particular phenomenon. Itis therefore essential to examine what the source is and for what purpose the material was written.The lack of reliable statistic about civil engagement is the primary issue of this case. The level ofreliability within CSOs can also be questioned. The absence of democratic structures in the country andwithin CSOs leads to official statements and documents being unavailable. Other than the absence ofgovernmental institutions, a few other factors contribute to the deficiency of social statistics and data;more than half of the Sudanese population live in rural areas are nomads and therefore it is complicatedto achieve information from people who are constantly on the move, and in rural and remote areas.However my intention is not to look at statistics rather it is to look at the effects and role of civilsociety in peacebuilding efforts by exploiting analytical generalizations and explicating the complex anddynamic structure of this system.The methodological approach can be questioned in the sense that the essay is only base on thestudy of literature. Looking at the empirical material, however, the volume of accumulated data and theanalytical approach of the literature at hand provides original and independent research.Further, source criticism essential in my study when I have been using secondary sources andmust take into account that my material can not be considered complete or 'objective' statements, but asinterpretations, then I as investigators should keep me critical of these to get a credible results.13