Common use of Research approach Clause in Contracts

Research approach. This research primarily follows a case study approach to study the 1997 CHT Accord and its following conflict transformation process for a period of post- accord 20 years (1997-2017). This case study helps us to conduct a critical analysis of peace accord implementation and its impacts to peacebuilding and conflict transformation process. In social science, case study is considered as a flexible approach to understand issues and complexities around a ‘case’ or social phenomenon (▇▇▇▇▇, 1997). This approach is exploratory in nature, which seeks causal relations of diverse social phenomena (Yin, 2014). This causal relationship does not appear merely in descriptive nature, instead is more oriented to the phenomenon and real world context (Gray, 2009). As an empirical inquiry, it studies a “phenomenon (the ‘case’) in depth” and in detail, but explores many themes and subjects by focusing on limited range of people, organisations or contexts (Yin, 2014:16). Although the case study method epistemologically has an orientation towards ‘realist perspective’, it also accommodates ‘relativist perspective’ that recognizes multiple realities, dependent to observers (Yin, 2014:17). However, the case study method is suitable when research question starts mainly with ‘how’ and ‘why’ wherein the researcher has limited control (Gray, 2009). In this inductive approach, the research begins with a set of provisional research questions or hypothesis, connected to lead question. The strategy that the case study follows for data collection and data analysis allows reformulation of hypothesis and questions, when required (▇▇▇▇▇▇, 2012:566). A case study research can use a variety of data collection methods and techniques including analysis of administrative documents, records and publications, in-depth interviews, structured survey, participant observation, and consultation of wider secondary data and evidences for detailed examination and analysis of the case (▇▇▇▇▇, 1997). This research applies a mixed methods approach to answer CHT case specific questions to track the accord implementation and its following conflict transformation process. The sources of information include a mixture of Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) of different stakeholders and consultation of different secondary resources. Both primary and secondary data are used for answering research questions and substantiating study findings. The KIIs has allowed us to collect primary data from different stakeholders’ subjective perspectives of realities, facts, figures and evidence of agreement implementation and post-accord initiatives of socio-economic development and peacebuilding in the CHT. The reflexive interpretation and explanation of interviewees from their perspectives helps us to understand inter-subjective realities of the CHT Accord and associated processes. Their perceptions, opinion, narratives and insights have deeply been intertwined with socio- political interplays of transition process, once the Accord was signed. However, there are different subjective realities in post-conflict situations like in the CHT, which is a complex task to understand due to the sensitivities of the context. Table 1.1: Categories and number of interviewees 1 Academic AC 8 2 Development worker DW 6 3 Journalist JN 3 4 Human rights organization personnel HRO 2 5 Service provider SP 3 6 Security analyst SA 4 7 Political leader Local LPL 3 8 Civil society personnel CS 3 10 Cultural activist CA 1 11 Local trust-building network LTN 2 Initially, the categories of interviewees were purposively selected for this case study. Furthermore, a snow balling approach enables us to reach different stakeholders, who have provided substantial and wide ranging information, and insights, in relation to the CHT Accord implementation and other related issues. For this thesis, we have conducted 39 KIIs of different stakeholders including academics, experts, local and regional political leaders, civil society members, human rights personnel, journalists, development workers and security analysts (table 1.1). Multiple gatekeepers helped in this process. These stakeholders were interviewed in two field trips in Bangladesh. First fieldwork was conducted from September 2015 to January 2016. The second visit was in November-December 2016. The majority of interviews took place in the CHT, more than 300 kilometers away from Dhaka where rests of the interviews were conducted. All interviews were conducted in a flexible manner, but with the assistance of a semi-structured interview guide. This flexible approach allowed interviewees to answer questions in their own manner. This also enabled us to depart from guide questions for probing issues by reflecting on discussions for further clarifications whenever required in data collection process. Diverse opinion, perceptions and insights of wide range of stakeholders helped us to get a clear, and critical understanding of the CHT Accord, its implementation and post-accord processes. Out of 39 interviewees,4 only six were female. Some of development workers worked at field level, while others performed as chief executive of Non- government organizations (NGOs) or key personnel of donor organization and contributed in decision-making process. Amongst the political leaders, some have involvement with the regional authority aligned to the PCJSS. Others have engagement with the district councils and national political parties. All four security analysts served in the CHT at different periods of their service.