A Pasifika research methodology: Talaloto

Abstract

A number of researchers have done extensive work on ontologies, epistemologies and pedagogies in relation to Pasifika research, but little on methodologies. Vaioleti describes talanoa as a phenomenological research approach which is ecological, oral and interactive. Halapua’s article Talanoa Process: The Case of Fiji (2008) emphasizes talanoa as a potential model for conflict resolution following Fiji’s coup in the year 2000. Recently, talanoa as a research methodology has become widely used in the Pacific research arena. It has been defined by scholars as creating meaning out of nothing or simply to talk, gossip, share or chat about nothing. ‘Talaloto’ – a research methodology that I introduce and outline in this article is closely related in many ways to talanoa. While talanoa is the co-construction of knowledge/ideas by two or more people, talaloto is a person’s testimony of constructed knowledge or lived experiences. There is a scarcity of information on this traditional practice yet like talanoa it is rooted in Tongan oral tradition. This paper foregrounds talaloto as a traditional cultural practice and it explains its use as a research methodology. It is hoped that more researchers will consider using this method in the future, recognizing its place within Pasifika methodologies and its ability to generate rich and authentic data.