Indigenous Knowledge Networks among Homestay Owners in India
I was involved in a project on Indigenous Knowledge Networks among homestay owners in an India town. Homestays often serve as gateways to indigenous cultures, offering guests an immersive experience while preserving local traditions and livelihoods. This research aims to explore the systems of knowledge sharing and preservation within an indigenous community in India. It focuses on understanding digital adoption among homestay owners and how it intersects with the preservation and promotion of indigenous knowledge networks in India.
My Role in the Project
My primary responsibilities in the project involved data cleaning and analysis and the creation of network graphs using the R statistical software. My work required organizing and refining data collected from field interviews to prepare it for meaningful analysis. Through SNA tools, I was able to visualize the connections between various concepts within these knowledge systems. This process was both technically demanding and intellectually engaging, as it provided an opportunity to see complex relationships take shape in a structured and interpretable manner.
The network in the picture shows a snapshot of the terms used by the homestay owners to describe their use of technologies.
Lessons Learned
Through this project, I have gained technical skills in data preparation, network analysis, and visualization, as well as a broader understanding of how networks function in different social contexts. The experience has given me new insights into the interconnected nature of social and knowledge systems, highlighting how relationships, whether interpersonal or institutional, are central to the creation, preservation, and adaptation of knowledge.
Ongoing Research
While my contribution has focused on the initial stages of data cleaning and analysis, the project is ongoing. Our partners are currently conducting further interviews in the field, which will provide additional data to enrich our understanding of these networks.
Being part of this project has been both an educational and rewarding experience. It has strengthened my appreciation for interdisciplinary research and the value of combining technical tools with cultural understanding to address complex questions. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful work and look forward to seeing how the findings of this research will deepen our understanding of indigenous knowledge systems.