Frances Bekking, International Development and Globalization, 4th year
Country of fieldwork: Nepal
Canadian NGO: Alternatives
Local NGO: Alternatives
Conducting independent research comes with many challenges, especially when it’s done abroad and involves working with marginalized communities. As an intern currently working in Nepal researching the waste management systems, I’ve come to realize the complexities of conducting solo research. One of the first difficulties I ran into was language. While basic translation apps might seem like a straightforward solution, I opted for using an in-person translator because it is more convenient for interview purposes. However, I quickly realized that interviewing in Nepali only to have it translated later on created problems within my research, the main issue being that once I received the translated interview, I had several follow-up questions and clarifications that I could not ask during the interview. Luckily, in my second round of interviews, my translator had time to translate the subject’s responses in the moment, which resulted in more well-rounded findings. Another challenge I ran into was the ethical dilemma surrounding studying marginalized groups like informal waste workers. I often questioned my place as a foreigner and temporary guest, whether I am doing the workers justice in my research. I’ve found myself grappling with concerns about unintentionally reinforcing stereotypes or making generalizations based on a small sample. I’ve maintained a constant awareness that what I’m seeing is only a sliver of the broader picture, due to the fact that I only had the opportunity to interview a handful of workers for only a few minutes. While the insight I gained is valuable, it’s not comprehensive. There’s also the issue of consent and power. After conducting my interviews, I reflected on whether the participants felt free to say no to the interview or if they felt safe sharing personal information with someone who ultimately holds more privilege and resources. True ethical research means being aware of your assumptions and prioritizing the agency of the people you’re learning from. Lastly, I found myself questioning whether my understanding of the topic was enough to meaningfully conduct a research project. Even with weeks or months in a community, there are things I will never fully understand. The full policy picture, the intricacies of the waste management system, cultural and historical factors impacting the system, societal attitudes, etc., all combine to create the system seen today. I worry that due to time constraints, I was only able to achieve a basic understanding of the topic, leading to surface-level research results. Additionally, I may have been interpreting what I see through a biased lens, or I could have been missing subtext that would be obvious to a local researcher. Despite the challenges, I believe this kind of research still holds value. I learned a lot about research that I could not have learned in a classroom setting, and there is still room to improve. I learned that I should stop trying to aim for perfection or total comprehension, but to be honest about limitations and open to constant learning. I am just one observer in a much larger and more complex story, and I believe that my perspective has added something to the large body of work regarding waste management in developing countries. As I continue my research here in Nepal, I’m reminded that knowledge is relational. It emerges not just from study, but from listening, from sitting with discomfort, and from being willing to admit what you don’t know. I’m grateful to have learned this in the context in which I did, surrounded by supportive people at my NGO and university, who are behind me, making sure I learn and grow throughout this experience.