Changes in the study context when conducting population-based fieldwork are prone to several effects on the examiner’s role. These changes influence the researcher’s approaches to acquiring data and how they relate to the study environment. While they can result in new ways and opportunities for obtaining data, they can also lead to questionable difficulties in the researcher’s context.

At the peak of election events and after the election, primarily after results have been published, participants are most likely to have different opinions on the context of elections. They include events before and after the election and their effects on them; mentally, socially, and physically. The factors determine the researcher’s presentation among the subjects and their reactions.

Therefore, a researcher needs to acquire informed consent from the participants. The researcher in charge can receive informed consent by directly approaching the participant and requesting interviews with them. Also, they should conform to research and ethical guidelines. For instance, when conducting research in Kiambu, Kenya, the researcher should know the right time and how to inform the participants of their identity. The approach effectively prevents biases and labels the examiner about their original whereabouts.

The ethnic identity of the researcher may appear as a burden as it may result in participants in the research environment failing to provide data. It can be more intense when a researcher goes out of their environment as they will be perceived as outsiders by the recipients making them reluctant to give their opinions. The existing mistrust due to ongoing election events and after-election proceedings may make participants unwilling to provide data, especially when the examiner comes from the opposite side of their opinion. It may breach the researcher’s safety or lead to inaccurate data acquisition. A researcher may be discriminated against because of their gender. For example, a female examiner researching ‘male’ politics will likely face problems with the subject’s involvement in the study during this election period. Moreover, as the analysis might involve interviewing local level persons, such as men, women, youths, local leaders, and the victims of the post-election violence of 2007 and 2013, getting their opinion may be challenging. They may blame the government for their situations and see it illogical to give data.

Therefore, for a compelling study, a researcher must be creative when conducting fieldwork projects before and after the election. To ensure creativity, the researcher should apply prior theoretical training done theoretically to their practical context. Prioritising their safety and implementing better ways to access the research environment is also key to the success of their study. Examiners should also be aware that research guidelines are not meant to be carried to the fieldwork because they are part of research requirements. They should be practically applied during the operation. The relational experience from the ethical principles will enhance mutual respect between the examiner and the participants.

Authors: 

Director at the Common Goal Research