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Why Did I Not Prepare for This? The Politics of Negotiating Fieldwork Access, Identity, and Methodology in Researching Microfinance Institutions

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  • Juliana Siwale

Abstract

It has been increasingly recognized that undertaking qualitative research can pose many challenges for researchers. However, scanty literature focuses directly on the experiences of doctoral research students from developing countries studying in Western Europe and other similar geographic regions, and the challenges of doing fieldwork when they return “back home.†In this article, I use my experiences in the process of undertaking PhD fieldwork on two donor-funded microfinance institutions located in Zambia to demonstrate that doctoral students from specific regions (Africa in particular) undertaking research in their native countries can struggle to manage and make sense of the challenges and identity issues raised in their “familiar†environments. I also present a detailed discussion of how various gatekeepers and participants facilitated access, identity alteration, and the impact of insider–outsider positionality on collected data. It is concluded that organizational “politics†and local context can have significant bearing on power relationships, identities of researchers, and methodological preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Juliana Siwale, 2015. "Why Did I Not Prepare for This? The Politics of Negotiating Fieldwork Access, Identity, and Methodology in Researching Microfinance Institutions," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(2), pages 21582440155, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:5:y:2015:i:2:p:2158244015587560
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244015587560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James Copestake, 2002. "Inequality and the polarizing impact of microcredit: evidence from Zambia's copperbelt," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(6), pages 743-755.
    2. Rob Dixon & John Ritchie & Juliana Siwale, 2006. "Microfinance: accountability from the grassroots," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 19(3), pages 405-427, April.
    3. Laurila, Juha, 1997. "Promoting research access and informant rapport in corporate settings: Notes from research on a crisis company," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 407-418, December.
    4. Mats Alvesson & Cynthia Hardy & Bill Harley, 2008. "Reflecting on Reflexivity: Reflexive Textual Practices in Organization and Management Theory," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(3), pages 480-501, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Siwale, Juliana & Gurău, Călin & Aluko, Olu & Dana, Léo-Paul & Ojo, Sanya, 2023. "Toward understanding the dynamics of the relationship between religion, entrepreneurship and social change: Empirical findings from technology-savvy African immigrants in UK," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PB).
    2. Icíar García-Pérez & María Ángeles Fernández-Izquierdo & María Jesús Muñoz-Torres, 2020. "Microfinance Institutions Fostering Sustainable Development by Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, March.
    3. H. A. K. N. S. S. Surangi, 2022. "The Experience of Applying a Narrative Research Approach With Female Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.

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