Conditions were discussed with those who consented to participate in the research on ‗An exploration of Community Perceptions and Understandings of Rwandan Genocide Memorials.
These included convenient times for group discussions and interviews. An agreement was made and the participants proposed a convenient venue to hold discussions. Famous places were chosen, that people like for different ceremonies. The venues had to be accessible by public transport. It was stated that respondents in the focus group were free during the discussions, and this feeling of security enabled important information on the topic to be revealed.
5.6.1 Interview venue and time
As seen earlier, there were two groups of respondents from IRDP. They already had venues and a timetable for their regular meetings. Their choice to maintain those venues and their own schedule for group discussions was approved by the researcher. The fact that respondents were free to choose a convenient time and place for their discussions helped the research to be worthy and meaningful. For other groups, discussions were held in the locations of genocide memorials or in other places chosen by respondents. In some cases, it was not easy to find a time and meeting place convenient for everybody, but through cooperation the researcher managed to set up a schedule that allowed access to everyone.
The criteria for choosing a given place depended on its accessibility and calmness. In all group discussions, this was respected, even in the gatherings that were held in the memorial places. The counsellor stressed that it was important that the venue created an atmosphere that facilitated
162 discussion. Equally, the schedule for meetings was discussed and various groups proposed different hours. Three groups planned to meet in the morning, from 09:00 until 11:30, four groups in the afternoon, from 02:00 to 16:30 and the three remaining groups proposed 16:00 to 18:30. This allotted time was appropriate to hold in-depth discussions and produce the necessary information.
For the detailed interviews, the time and place depended on each individual. Each respondent of the focus group enhanced the possibility of producing the information that is considered as hard to reveal within group discussions. Different hours of the day were used and the appointment was made just after the group discussion. Fifty minutes were allocated to each person for personal discussion on the genocide memorials‘ messages and their interpretations, as well as the impact of the genocide memorials on the community. Important issues on the definition of the genocide memorials and the messages they communicate were revealed. This was a method which indicated how sensitive these places are. The days of the group discussions and the two following days were availed by the interviewees, in order to have personal interaction for those who were interested. The other respondents, who could not be available in this period, proposed other convenient days and locations to the researcher.
Briefly, as was planned, four months was enough to carry out the fieldwork, remembering that before organizing the interviews, meeting people and visiting the memorials, the researcher received official authorization from different organizations, and this authorization allowed me to conduct fieldwork research in the whole country. Respondents were given a briefing of what was going on and what they were to help with and also a short presentation concerning the researcher and the object of study. This first contact was to organize an appointment with them so that their consent could be obtained. Thereafter, the recruiting process started. After this, the practical modalities of their participation and some relevant information were discussed. Finally, the holding of group discussions and interviews was organized.
163 5.6.2 Access to the fieldwork
The genocide memorials are located in different corners of the country. The period of two months (November and December 2009) was enough to seek authorization for the study. It was in the same period that the respondents of focus groups were recruited. A written letter in Kinyarwanda was addressed to the representative of the organization that supervises genocide memorials. The National Commission for Fighting Against Genocide (NCFAG), provincial offices and the offices of different genocide memorials in particular were involved.
Correspondence included details of the aim of the research. Within few days, feedback on my request was received.
5.6.3 The organization of the interview guide
Robson (1993:128) defines interviews as purposeful conversation initiated by the interviewer for the specific purpose of obtaining research relevant information to satisfy set research objectives.
Interviews are the most commonly used approach in social science research as they are straightforward and non-problematic mode of finding things out. Interviews encompass a wide range of forms ranging from structured to unstructured interviews.
With regard to this study, an interview guide was drawn up in order to prompt the necessary information. The interview guide included open-ended questions, the aim of which was to discuss the issues in detail. These questions were composed in English and then translated into Kinyarwanda, as some of the respondents in the focus groups and interviewees could speak and understand Kinyarwanda, and were comfortable using it.
A pilot study of the interview guide was organized two weeks before the fieldwork. This aimed at making sure that the respondents clearly understood all the questions in order to provide relative information. Welman and Kruger (2001:141) draw their attention to this step because it helps ―to detect possible flaws in the measurement procedures and in making the independent
164 variables operational, to identify unclear or ambiguously formulated items, to allow researchers to note non-verbal behaviour that possibly may signify discomfort or embarrassment about the content or wording of the questions‖. Eleven respondents from the Nyanza, Nyamata, Rebero and Shyorongi focus groups were picked to test the questions of the interview guide. The meeting-place was the Nyanza genocide memorial.
Nyanza Memorial is located in the middle of the respondent area of this pilot group. To specifically measure this instrument of data collection, two hours and thirty minutes were allocated to the activities. This pilot test showed a good result, confirming that all questions were clearly understood and the respondents felt comfortable to provide their points of view relating to the information needed. Thereafter, the field research was prepared with a certain level of confidence that the intended responses would be gained in the following days, when group discussions and interviews took place.
That pre-test of the interview guide helped the researcher to test that there were no redundant questions. This pre-test helped the researcher to check for possible confusion in the wording of some questions, and if possible to reformulate the questions before group discussions began.
This also helped to avoid annoyance during focus group discussions. Additionally, it was a way of putting more emphasis on some sensitive questions that were identified for the pre-test in order to alert the counsellor so he/she could assist emotional respondents. This was a very important step that prepared the ground for the focus groups. The time that was allocated to group discussions was easily managed, since the researcher and the counsellor knew the sensitivity of each question and they prepared themselves accordingly (Mouton 2001: 113-114).
Additionally, the pre-test was a good way of testing the atmosphere of a group discussion and it prepared the researcher to equip herself properly to facilitate discussion. In testing the questions, some respondents were very excited and wanted to provide comments that were not even
165 relevant to the information needed. The pre-test assisted the researcher to control and minimize these extended discussions without frustrating group members, because she was well equipped to do so beforehand. Some individual testimonies that could take time were avoided.
During the group discussions all questions were exhaustively covered within two hours and thirty minutes. Respondents felt comfortable to express their opinions. Discussions were so interesting that the respondents discovered new insights through other members of the group. At the end of the interviews, recommendations were formulated. Some of them will appear in the last chapter in the section concerning suggestions.
5.6.4 Sampling
This research is qualitative because it used a purposeful or judgmental sampling method. This sampling is appropriate to this research because the researcher knows the environment, the population, the nature of the research and its aims (Babbie and Mouton 2001:166-167). This sampling method helped the researcher to select respondents. This was done in such a way that all categories of the Rwandan population were represented, including a range of gender, age and education. This enabled the researcher to gain information that was balanced, from various aspects.
The ten genocide memorials that were selected as the sample for the research from different regions of the country are Bisesero, Kamonyi, Kiziguro, Murambi, Nyamata, Nyamasheke, Nyange, Nyanza, Rebero and Shyorongi. The choice was motivated by some factors such as the sensitivity of the place, its historical background and even the region in which it is located. Some of those places are ‗killing fields‘, places of memory and others were only ‗lieux de memoire‘.
The emotions that are developed by respondents differ on arrival at these places. The emotions one experiences at the place of memory is not the same as those which are experience at a killing field.
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