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An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

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problem free. Ethnography requires <strong>the</strong> researcher to engage in meaningful <strong>and</strong> intimaterelationships to place meaning on <strong>the</strong> behaviour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cultural group as well as on <strong>the</strong>behaviour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> individual in <strong>the</strong> social group. Consequently <strong>the</strong> ethnographer must gain<strong>the</strong> trust <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subjects being observed <strong>and</strong> interviewed.Consent for participant observation was relatively easy, except that <strong>the</strong> researcher becameself-conscious as <strong>the</strong> only person in <strong>the</strong> service that was making notes. It was relativelyeasy to gain <strong>the</strong> trust <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gatekeepers. The COGIC minister pointed out <strong>the</strong> importance<strong>of</strong> being sensitive to <strong>the</strong> members as I made my request for volunteers to be interviewed. Itwas a humbling experience to gain <strong>the</strong> trust <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gatekeepers. During <strong>the</strong> interviews,<strong>the</strong>re were instances where it was clear that I had gained <strong>the</strong> trust <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> respondent as <strong>the</strong>rewere several instances when <strong>the</strong> respondent said „Can I turn <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> tape as I talaboutthis? I don‟t want it recorded.‟ During <strong>the</strong>se instances I became a friend, a sounding boardra<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> researcher. It was reassuring to know that <strong>the</strong> respondent concerned wasaware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own needs as well as <strong>the</strong> requirement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> data collection process for <strong>the</strong>research. I respected <strong>the</strong>ir wish <strong>and</strong> simply forgot what <strong>the</strong>y said outside <strong>the</strong> recordingsessions. One respondent was reluctant to have <strong>the</strong> interview recorded but agreed after asecond detailed explanation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> process <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> opportunity to withdraw at any time. Itwas necessary to establish a degree <strong>of</strong> equity in <strong>the</strong> relationship between <strong>the</strong> researcher <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> interviewees <strong>and</strong> this was achieved by using a semi-structured interview where <strong>the</strong>respondents were given control to some extent.3.7.2 Equal engagement in <strong>the</strong> research processKing, (1996:177) advocates that „Interviewing within an alternative or post-structuralistparadigm can place both <strong>the</strong> interviewer <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> respondent in a vulnerable position.‟ This86

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