My basic intention in conducting the research was to apply a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. The "two-phase design", whereby the qualitative method is dominant and the quantitative method acted is complementary (Hakim, 1 987: 1 44), meant that the results from the first phase were used to plan the next phase. This can provide a rich sampling framework for selecting particular types of participant (Denzin, 1 98 9 : 243).
However, in reality, it was difficult to conduct each method in separate and isolated study. The traditional and indigenous nature of participants, and the physically dangerous locations, as well as the limited time that I had, required me to practise the triangulation method with flexibility, conformity and creativeness. Thus, I conducted the research by mixing several data collection techniques according to my research priorities and the time available. In this case Denzin ( 1 989) suggests applying as many methodological perspectives as possible in sociological enquiries, in order to achieve diverse sources and in-depth interpretations.
Generally, the process of collecting data in the villages ran well. In Dilam village, I had a unique experience in inviting participants. Almost every day, people came to our house to have a massage with my host-mother, who is a traditional massager, especially for children. She cured her patients by massaging with coconut oil, and gave them herb medicines that she found in the garden or field. I took advantage of this situation by talking with these patients, and asking them if I could visit them at home or in the field. This was to facilitate my data collecting process, thus obviating the difficulties of finding people, especially men, during the daytime. In adapting methods of data collection, I have also had to be creative in using any opportunity. For example, after the village meeting, I requested the participants to gather and to discuss rural credit in
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the village. If the situation pennitted, I then visited them one by one to complete the questionnaires.
Dilam is the only village in my research where I could conduct the PRA method. This is because the NOO, which previously worked for this village had introduced the concept of PRA to the rural people. Thus, I could apply several PRA techniques such as matrix scoring and ranking, Venn diagram, problems identification, and seasonal calendar. I conducted these PRA techniques in the second week of my stay in the village when trust had been established and more people were interested in participating in this study. As a result, people were enthusiastic about doing the PRA, which was reflected by their voluntary initiative to set up the place and time for conducting the PRA.
In Saniangbaka, my experience in data collection was challenged by the difficulties in getting infonnation on fonnal credit from the fanners. When I tried to ask about their involvement in formal credit programmes such as KUT, they tended to change the subject, they declined to answer questions, or they said that they did not access any fonnal credit programme. In fact, based on district records, I realised that this village
had a recorded a high rate of credit default in a KUT credit programme. Similarly, I also had difficulty in collecting data about the rural bank in the village. The bank officers seemed to hide the faults of the bank in channelling the credit to the farmers, and disclosed only information other than the credit default.
In Tikalak, the data collection process was not as smooth as in the previous two villages. The scattered locations of farmers' houses, steep slopes, and the unwelcoming attitude of the village head were the reasons why I was not able to conduct PRA techniques in this village. To complement my data collection techniques, I interviewed key persons in the village such as the elementary school teachers, religious leaders, and the farmers' group leaders. This strategy was useful to validate and corroborate infonnation received from the fanners.
Because of the difficult physical condition of Tikalak village, where people's residential areas are scattered and the road is steep, I preferred to do my interviews and fill in the questionnaires in the field when fanners or groups of fanners were doing their daily activities rather than at their homes. Thus in this way I could perfonn many techniques
l 3 8 of data collection at the same time such as filling in questionnaires, doing semi interviews, and facilitating focus group discussions. This strategy saved time, money and energy for me as a researcher, and was also more convenient for the farmers, because they did not have to allocate special time to receive us at home. In this way, they and their friends could also discuss their problems in farming and their difficulty in accessing credit in the village. As happened in Dilam and Saniangbaka, my spouse and I were also actively involved in the religious activities in the mosque, which could attract the respect and trust of the local people. This aspect contributed to the smooth implementation of my research process.