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Research Design and Methodology

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Indigenous Geographies in the Yucatan

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Geography ((BRIEFSGEOGRAPHY))

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Abstract

In this chapter, I delineate my research design and methodology for my project in Xuilub. I used a two-pronged data collection method, which consisted of experiential learning (which I consider an Indigenous form of “participant-observation”) and semi-structured interviews. First, I delineate this research process and describe how I applied my methodological approach while being sensitive to the local Indigenous context (people and land) in Xuilub. Finally, I discuss how I made sense of all the data that I collected and how it was analysed and interpreted.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Indigenous populations around the world tend to be young. In Canada, for example, the median age of the Indigenous population is 27, compared to 40 for the national average. This is in part due to health disparities (earlier death) and a high birth rate (see Adelson 2005 and Guimond et al. 2004).

  2. 2.

    Although IKs and cultural information are not merely lifeless “data”, I still use this term in this context to avoid confusion and elucidate this process clearly for all (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) readers.

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Sioui, M. (2020). Research Design and Methodology. In: Indigenous Geographies in the Yucatan. SpringerBriefs in Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60399-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60399-1_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-60398-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-60399-1

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