Decolonizing methodology: Proposing Kachaharī as socio-culturally acceptable qualitative method

Apstrakt

In this article, I propose Kachaharī as an anthropologically useful and socio-culturally acceptable data collection method, which is similar to focus group discussions, yet differs in a particular way: the participants, not the researcher, drive the discussion. This cultural practice prevails in South Asia with some differences and similarities in terms of names and proceedings, particularly in Pakistan’s Sindh province. This article thoroughly elucidates Kachahārī through ascertaining its socio-cultural history, composition, effectiveness, the special circumstances in which it occurs, and how it is similar to yet differs from the focus group discussion. My aim is not to invent a method but to highlight one that already exists in certain socio-cultural settings and can be used as a qualitative method for social science research. I discovered it during my PhD fieldwork in Sindh Province, Pakistan in 2014. Given that this method was already in use in that cultural setting, I found it easy to adapt for rapid and culturally appropriate data collection. I show that the role of the researcher in the success of this method is key, as the group conversation may easily drift off-topic and it is the researcher’s task to bring the conversation back to the topic at hand. This must be done in a subtle and indirect way that does not involve taking direct charge of the discussion. The researcher must also be both an attentive participant and a keen listener. I present and describe this method herein, as Kachaharī might also be helpful for other researchers in other socio-cultural settings.