The Role of a Researcher

In the villages and savannahs of Makame Wildlife Management Area, our own positionality is critically illuminated as we navigate the practice of research. As researchers, we are far from neutral observers; instead, we carry with us the imprints of our own cultures, personal experiences, and subconscious biases. This amalgamation of personal factors colours our interactions and shapes the narratives we draw from the community. Recognizing this, we confront the inherent power dynamics that have historically allowed researchers to extract information in ways that distort lived experiences and disempower communities.

Our approach at ConnectGo strives to acknowledge and avoid these traditional dynamics. By collaborating closely with professionals from the Makame Wildlife Management Area, we endeavour to co-produce knowledge that respects and reflects the community’s perspectives and priorities. We aim to disrupt unequal power practices by constantly checking our biases and putting faith in everyone’s lived experiences, thus ensuring our research methodologies empower rather than overshadow the voices we seek to amplify. We strive not only to gather data but to engage in a more equitable, respectful, and mutually enriching exchange of knowledge. This commitment to acknowledging and adjusting for our positionality helps us bridge the gap between researcher and community, connecting the scientist to humanity, and fostering a research environment where power is shared and stories are told with integrity. By practising reflexive research practices, we can create space for participants, readers, and ourselves to better understand the intangible processes and material consequences of our work.