Reconstructing changes in the Great Barrier Reef - The Great Barrier Reef: An Environmental History - page 31

Original oral histories
Original oral histories formed a major part of my research. Initially, a list of
key (expert) informants was created using purposive (convenience) sampling;
those individuals were contacted to request an interview and access to historical
photographs. Qualitative, semi-structured interviewing was used (with written
consent), with audio recording and full transcription of the interviews following
the conventions described by Gillham (2000) and the guidelines specified in
the Oral History Handbook of the Oral History Association of Australia (South
Australia Branch), compiled by Robertson (2000). Further informants were
recruited using a snowballing technique; in total, 50 interviews were conducted
and 47 of those were included in the final oral history collection, deposited at the
GBRMPA Library in Townsville.
Anecdotes and comments
Other oral data included brief anecdotes and comments recorded throughout
the course of the research. Those were collected in memo form and they served
primarily to guide and focus the research process and to inform the qualitative
interviews.
Data analysis
My data analysis involved the textual analysis of documentary materials and
of oral history transcripts, using a system of coding, classification and grouping
based on pre-defined categories (although other categories emerged during the
process). I compiled a database of qualitative evidence for various coral reefs,
islands and types of marine wildlife, although those primary categories were
supplemented by others, including the various coastal locations, historical
industries, environmental impacts, environmental management practices and
perceptions of environmental change. Those analytical categories allowed the
production of discrete historical vignettes that were built up into longer, more
complex narratives about changes in coral reefs, islands and marine wildlife.
Further analytical distinctions were made according to the type of material
used, which also facilitated the cross-referencing of sources.
Visual representations, in most cases, were annotated and used to supplement
documentary and oral data. In particular, the historical maps and sketches
collected were interpreted in the light of other documentary records. For
example, sketch maps of coral mining locations were matched with the archival
records of the licences for those areas. Maps, sketches and photographs could also
be dated if they illustrated activities for which surviving documentary records
exist, or for which oral data is available. For example, a photograph depicting
turtle hunting in the Fitzroy River was identified more precisely as a result
of an oral history interview with one of the turtle fishers in the photograph.