Social Research

Being in the field

 

Before I went to Manila I haven’t had a clear idea about my thesis, about my research approach or my methods I would like to use. In fact I thought it doesn’t make sense to plan so far ahead when not knowing the circumstances of the communities I will encounter. I thought it makes not much sense to plan something nice and fancy from my warm and cozy desk back home when I have not seen the living conditions, not talked to informal settlers and professionals or not having an idea about the real local and national political setting. 

As a matter of fact I decided to be in the first place an observer: looking, asking, and learning by joining my coworkers from UPA with their daily work in the settlements, meetings and discussions. I ate with the families in the shantytowns, drunk with my colleagues and walked through the alleys of the communities and surrounding neighborhoods. All that not only based upon a professional interest, but mainly because of a personal interest: life here in Manila, but in particular in the shantytowns, is following different rules, norms and values. Things can have a different meaning, significance and social dynamics are all rooted in poverty and the struggle of equality and justice. 

Neutral?

People could already start to argue here that I not stayed neutral enough, that I got involved and therefore biased. And yes, it’s true. Of course did I got involved- how can you be in Baseco- a slum of 50.000 to 70.000 informal settler families and not being affected? I would not be a responsible person if I would try to stay neutral when being in places forgotten by the world. I looked deep into the dark site of our world order, on the price others pay for our wealth, into corruption, suffer, overpopulation, devastation and violence. Even with the smallest understanding of social justice every researcher approaching the field should become involved. Otherwise would the research be just another example of exploitation, and perhaps one of the worst ones hence it would mean to degrade the families from human beings into social objects…

As a result I did get engaged in a somewhat participatory approach, meaning me being part of the research: observing and interacting. But as a social worker I could not just let people be passive variables in my inquiry, I wanted to empower them, perhaps to make them enjoy social research in the way I do and increase communication among them. Therefore did we trained, where possible, members of the families themselves to conduct the research together with us. Logically did also my coworkers from UPA become active researchers and supported my data collection. I think that three-way-approach is the reason for the huge amount and broad scope of data I collected so far.  

Nerd

I am already looking forward to the data entry and later the data analysis- it will be a lot of work but in the same time I assume I will learn as much as I did during the collection phase. Besides winter is waiting for me back home in Berlin, meaning so many rainy/snowy days with plenty of time for SPSS, transcriptions and first and second level coding. Something I could have figured already is the interest in social research. Thinking about issues, considering appropriate ways of approaching them, choosing methods and so on-  and perhaps in the end finding solutions or recommendations for social equality and justice -well, that is just so much fun- hmmm, seems like I turn out to become a geek in the end...

Learning how to surf     

Even though already once or twice announced here I never really made it to a beach in order to learn how to surf. That is now different. While I am writing these lines I am in San Juan (La Union), a cute little place with a 5km long beach and nice waves- six hours by bus away from Manila. According to the opinion of my friends is that place ideally for beginners to learn surfing.

Kind of funny is the place I stay- the “Sunset German Beach Resort”, check it out if you ever come to the Philippines and want to learn surfing as well :) The owner is German and kind of old grumpy guy (surprise!) but since it is out of season I have the entire place for myself. Unfortunately are the waves not too big, but i've been told that is actually better for a bloody beginner like me. I also denied to take a lesson instead I will throw myself just into the water and on the board. I assume it's like rollerskating: 

Just Do It! :)