Navigating Credibility and Approachability in Conflict Zones: Insights from Fieldwork in Nigerian Communities Facing Eco-Violence

Authors

Ezenwa E. Olumba, Royal Holloway, University of LondonFollow

Abstract

This article contributes to the literature by proposing an expanded “framework for credibility and approachability,” extending the framework’s applicability in conflict-affected societies. The credibility and approachability framework aids researchers in comprehending and evaluating their fieldwork experiences, enabling them to articulate their experiences clearly and insightfully. Drawing on the reflexive experiences of a diaspora-based researcher who used this framework to prepare for fieldwork in Nigeria, the article illustrates the framework’s components plus the added “bearability” component. The experiences were borne out of a study with 54 participants across focus groups in communities affected by eco-violence in the Nigerian Middle Belt. The researcher’s positionality of “betweenness” is also discussed, highlighting the complexities of conducting research as an academic “homecomer” in communities located in conflict-affected areas.

Keywords

fieldwork, credibility and approachability framework, bearability, eco-violence, insider/outsider

Author Bio(s)

Olumba Ezenwa (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5512-5992) is a Doctoral Research Fellow at the Conflict, Violence, and Terrorism Research Centre at Royal Holloway, University of London. His research agenda lies at the intersection of migration, psychology, and politics, focusing on how violence and cultural contexts influence individual and group behaviours. His research articles have appeared in Culture & Psychology, Third World Quarterly, Terrorism and Political Violence, Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, African Security Review, Small Wars & Insurgencies, and Genealogy. He introduced the concept of Cognitive Immobility in a paper published by Culture & Psychology that highlights how people can become cognitively entrapped in a place or experience from their past, leading to significant challenges in their current lives. This concept has gained extensive recognition, featuring in numerous op-eds and blogs, and has been translated into multiple languages, highlighting its broad impact and relevance. Please direct correspondence to ezenwa.olumba.2017@live.rhul.ac.uk

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Moses Ajaka, Elaigwu Noah Abel, Jumoh Audu, Gino Vlavonou, and all the community members who shared their lived experiences with him. This article would not have been possible without them. He extends his gratitude to the reviewers for their insightful recommendations and to Olariche and Nkeiru for their unwavering support.

Publication Date

7-16-2024

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2024.6773

Recommended APA Citation

Olumba, E. E. (2024). Navigating Credibility and Approachability in Conflict Zones: Insights from Fieldwork in Nigerian Communities Facing Eco-Violence. The Qualitative Report, 29(7), 1876-1891. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2024.6773

ORCID ID

0000-0001-5512-5992