The Naïve Researcher: Doing Social Research in Africa

Abstract

This paper discusses the practicalities of doing social research. It draws on the author's field experiences in four African countries during postgraduate training. It discusses physical risk, visible or invisible, that can be encountered during fieldwork and highlights other conceptual issues that are necessary for postgraduate students as first‐timers or 'naïve' researchers to consider. The reason(s) for doing this is to demonstrate a reflexive stance, i.e. the relationship between the theory and practice of qualitative research. The discussion thus offers an insight into what new researchers are likely to face when undertaking fieldwork abroad and issues that can act as a deterrent to the researcher as 'novice' or 'naïve'.