Microsoft Word - PhD Thesis Final.pdf - University of Limpopo ...

conditions were not as favourable as those mentioned, acquired
methodological plans and procedures were followed in order to find
information even under those challenges.
Approach and acceptance.
One of the challenging aspects of oral evidence gathering is the status of
the researcher in which up-and-coming researchers will not be taken
seriously by informants as compared by well-known researchers 22 . In this
regard, emphasis was on convincing informants that I was actually engaged
in a serious research in which I could be entrusted with confidential
information. I also relied on assistance from my supervisor, as well as
SAHRA officials, in order to build confidence in the informants. I did this by
producing written materials which indicated that I was indeed doing
academic research. My academic documents which I carried around, helped
to convince witnesses that my job was really authentic and as a result, they
genuinely gave out information.
To formalise my approach to my informants, I sent them letters which
contained information such as:-
_ a brief outline of my own background and relevant experience in
the subject.
_ the scope and aim of my research.
22 D. Henige, Oral Historiography, p. 5.
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