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The OSSREA Botswana Chapter Holds Its Annual National
OSSREA Botswana Chapter’s second National workshop on the theme: Conducting Social Research in Sensitive Areas, was held in Gaborone on the 31st October 2003. The workshop was a follow-up to the first workshop titled: “Challenges and Responsibilities of Doing Social Research in Botswana: Ethical Issues” held in June 2001.
The issues covered in the first workshop pertained to ethical questions in carrying out social research, including the following:
Ethical values in social research.
Ethics in documenting sources and dissemination of research findings.
Legal implications of research undertakings.
Academic challenges and responsibilities of social research.
Ethical issues in the design and implementation of social research.
The first workshop principally attracted social scientists from the University of Botswana who presented papers and debated critical ethical issues pertaining to the conduct of social research, especially in the context of Botswana. The workshop helped to create opportunities for the participants to understand the need to adhere to ethical values and practices in carrying out research.
The second workshop used the experiences gained from the first one and differed from it in that it was concerned not only with ethical issues in a broad sense, but was wider in scope and perspective and more specifically dealt with vulnerable population groups and explored how such groups could be empowered in the research process.
Objectives of the workshop
The specific objectives of the second workshop were as follows:
To provide information and education on various aspects of sensitive research.
To examine the ethical, methodological, political, and legal problems and issues pertaining to sensitive research.
To generate literature on sensitive research and initiate awareness programs to empower vulnerable groups in society about their rights as research subjects.
To draw up guidelines and/or code of conduct regarding the methods and procedures that can enable researchers deal with the problems and issues emanating from research on sensitive topics.
To contribute to theory building and policymaking in relation to research in sensitive areas.
The workshop was attended by about 40 participants, including paper presenters, moderators and participants. Participants mainly came from the University of Botswana’s Faculties of Social Sciences, Business, Education, Humanities, and Science. Graduate students also attended the workshop.
The opening ceremony started with a welcome address by Dr. Lily Mafela, a member of the workshop organizing committee. Dr. Mafela provided background on the history and organization of OSSREA.
The workshop was opened by Professor Cliff Studman, Director of Research and Development at the University of Botswana. He began his keynote speech by outlining OSSREA’s goals and achievements, especially its pivotal role in promoting social science research in Africa. Since the organization was established in 1980, he noted, OSSREA had generated more than 500 publications. Turning to the Chapter’s second workshop, Professor Studman summed up the themes and messages of this significant event. He observed that given the magnitude and impact of social changes and related social problems facing contemporary Africa coupled with the fact that we live in an increasingly complex and sensitive world, the workshop theme was both important and timely. The rest of his address revolved around elaborating, explaining and illustrating the significance and substance of undertaking research in sensitive areas.
The following papers were presented at the workshop:
- Introduction: “Conducting Sensitive Research in Sensitive Areas,” by (Apollo Rwomire);
“Conducting Sensitive Research: The “Thou Shalt Do with Many Thou Shalt Nots,” by Motshedisi Sabone);
“Participant Empowerment in Social Science Research: Issues and Problems” by Tonic Maruatona;
“Surplus Labour – Social Inequality as a Sensitive area: Conditions of its existence,’’ by Badziyili Nfila;
- “Women, Power and Health: HIV/AIDS in Botswana,” by Seitio, O, Pilane, C & Lee, M.B;
- “Collecting Qualitative Data in a Sensitive, Illicit and Fluid Commercial Sex Work Environment: The Case of Young Commercial Sex workers in Gaborone” by Joseph Pitso;
“Double Victimization: A Quest for Victim Sensitive Methodologies for Researching Survivors of Domestic Abuse,” by Gwen Lesetedi;
“Corruption: The Politics of Research on a controversial Issue,” by Kwaku Osei-Hwedie & Bertha Osei-Hwedie;
“Undertaking Research on Sensitive topics in Economics,”by Stephen Kapunda;
“Community involvement in Problem Identification and Seeking Solutions: An Application of Correlation Matrix Technique,” by Hadgu Bariagaber;
“Randomised Response Model: A Survey Technique for Obtaining Information on Sensitive Issues,” by Sudhakar Kunte.
The closing session was addressed by Prof. Apollo Rwomire, the Liaison Officer. After highlighting OSSREA’s vision and mission, he highlighted the major challenges facing the organization and the way forward. Professor Rwomire then extended his gratitude to OSSREA for sponsoring the chapter’s first and second research workshops. He thanked all participants, especially the presenters, for their tremendous effort. Special thanks were directed to the other members of the planning committee, namely Dr. Lily Mafela and Dr. Hadgu Bariagaber, for their hard work.