Report: Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods – 16th and 17th of February 2023

On the 16^th and 17^th of February, the two-day workshop on qualitative research methods took place at the Okavango Research Institute (ORI) in Maun, Botswana. Being based in Botswana for their research, three PhD researchers of the REWILDING team saw the opportunity to organize this workshop in collaboration with the ORI. The workshop targeted ORI graduate students with various (inter)disciplinary backgrounds interested in learning more about qualitative research methods.

The first day gave an introduction into the specifics of qualitative research methods. The day was divided into three sessions which covered qualitative interviews, ethnographic fieldwork and qualitative data analysis. Each session included a presentation with theoretical background information as well as useful guidelines and was followed by group work that gave participants the time to practice what has been learned. 

The second day started with an interactive exercise that allowed the students to jointly reflect on strategies and challenges of qualitative interviewing. Yet, the main focus of the second day was on the students’ presentations which gave insights into a broad variety of their MA as well as PhD research projects at different stages. Each participant had the opportunity to present their project, to reflect on the application of their chosen methods and to address challenges that were discussed in plenary.

After a joint Memorandum of Understanding between the Okavango Research Institute and the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology (University of Cologne) was signed in April 2022, this event contributed to a further exchange on professional and personal levels and strengthened collaboration between the institutions. 

We thank all participants for their involvement, and for sharing fieldwork insights and knowledge that enabled mutual learning during two successful workshop days.

Julia Brekl, Emilie Köhler, and Wisse van Engelen