Talanoa – Pasifika and Beyond

Abstract

In this paper I discuss how the values, beliefs, and processes of talanoa contribute to wholesome research. I used to think that my PhD journey should not have been this difficult. There were times when I had difficulties in supporting my intuitive thoughts. I concluded that this was my lack of academic skills, but now I recognize that those intuitive thoughts are aligned to indigenous worldviews. I realized that I was not the only one who faced this problem when I mentored Pasifika DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) students. In my perception, the lack of access to indigenous methodologies knowledge and a collaboration space made it difficult for students to engage their culture and tradition within their research proposal. I then understood the tension that I had felt when my own values conflicted with the mainstream methodologies I was expected to use in my research. As deadlines approached, it was safer for me to go with the prevalent acceptable research standards as there was neither time, nor an appropriate collaboration space, to think through such conflicts. In subsequently studying indigenous methodologies as an alternative approach to mainstream thinking, I found that talanoa with its underlying values and beliefs bridged the conflicts that I had felt. Talanoa reflected my reciprocal conversations during my interviews with the research participants, but I realised that the discussions lacked co-constructing research outcomes. I feel that just contemplating underlying talanoa values such as respect, reciprocity, collective responsibility, humility, love/charity, service, and spirituality form a basis for valuable conversations. In contrast, I find research interviews to be more process oriented with little contemplation to values attached.