Take a Walk: A Critical Reflection on Data Gathering in Remote Island Communities

Abstract

This paper is an account of a critical refection on the process of data gathering in remote island communities by phone as an insider-outsider. The purpose of the study was to contribute to my PhD research question: What factors influence successful contemporary migration of Torres Strait Islanders who are moving to the Australian mainland? To achieve this I had to contact remote Island communities in the Torres Strait and evolve a process that was relevant, reliable, and appropriate to Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. Semi-structured phone surveys where completed with key informants for each Island community. The process involved walking beside the participants on a virtual tour, house-by-house, and street-by-street. The process uncovered hidden nuances that surround accessing and retrieving information. The findings are useful, relevant and transferable for advancing research methods for collecting information in remote areas.