FIELD RESEARCHCOURSE 3

LECT.DR. ADRIANA ȘTEFĂNELADRIANA.STEFANEL@FJSC.RO

UNDERSTANDING FIELD RESEACH

Field research requires directly talking with and observing the people being studied.

Through personal interaction over months or years, you learn about these people and their life history, hobbies, habits, hopes, fears and dreams. Meeting new people and discovering new social worlds can be fun!

Field research it is also difficult, intense, time consuming, emotional draining and

sometimes physically dangerous.

SETTINGS OR LOCATION OF FIELD RESEARCH

Places to conduct successful short-term, small-scale field research studies: beauty salon, day care centre, bakery, bingo parlour, bowling alley, church, coffee shop, police, nursing home, weight room

A SHORT HISTORY OF FIELD RESEARCH

Academic field research began in the late XIXth century

In the 20s, researches concludes that the best way to develop an in-depth understanding of a community or culture is for a researcher to directly interact with and live among the native peoples, learning their customs, beliefs and social processes.

Soon researchers were applying field research techniques to study their own societies.

After WWII, field research faced increased competition from survey and quantitative research.

Today field researchers directly observe and interact with subjects in natural settings and acquire an ”inside” perspective.

Bronislaw Malinoski, the first researcher to live with a group of people for a long

period of time.

Robert Park’s zones of city growth model

CONSTRUCTIVISM. ETHOGRAPHY AND ETHNOMETODOLOGY

Field researcher assume that people filter human experiences through an ongoing, fluid, subjective sense of reality that shapes how they see and act on events.

Tacit knowledge

Explicit knowledge

Cultural knowledge

CONSTRUCTIVISM. ETHOGRAPHY AND ETHNOMETODOLOGY

Field researcher assume that people filter human experiences through an ongoing, fluid, subjective sense of reality that shapes how they see and act on events.

Tacit knowledge

Explicit knowledge

Cultural knowledge

CONSTRUCTIVISM. ETHOGRAPHY AND ETHNOMETODOLOGY

Ethnographers describe the explicit and tacit cultural knowledge that subjects use.

Thick description: Qualitative data in which a researcher attempts to capture all details of a social settings in an extremely detailed description and convey an intimate feeling for setting and the inner lives of people in it.

CONSTRUCTIVISM. ETHOGRAPHY AND ETHNOMETODOLOGY

.

Ethnometodologists want to document how we apply micro-level social rules and create new rules ”on the fly”.

The breaching experiment: a method to make visible and demonstrate the power of simple, tacit rules that we rely on to create a sense of reality in everyday life.

Keep calm,Its an experiment

THE LOGIC OF FIELD RESEARCH

Field method is more like an umbrella of activity beneath which any technique may be used for gaining the desired knowledge

The (good) field researcher is a resourceful, talented individual with ingenuity and ability to think on her or his feet while in the field.

Fieldwork means involvement and detachment, both loyalty and betrayal, both openness and secrecy, and most likely, love and hate.

Van Maanen apud Neuman, L. 2011

8. COPES WITH HIGH LEVEL OF

PERSONAL STRESS

7. OBSERVES ONGOING SOCIAL

PROCESSES

6. UNDERSTANDS AND DEVELOPS

EMPATHY

5. SEES EVENTS HOLISTICALLY

4. PRODUCES DATA

3. USES A VARIETY OF TEHNIQUES

2. BECOMES DIRECTLY INVOLVED

WHAT DO FIELD RESEARCHERS DO?

1. OBSERVS ORDINARY EVENTS AND

EVERYDAY ACTIVITY

8. COPES WITH HIGH LEVEL OF

PERSONAL STRESS

7. OBSERVES ONGOING SOCIAL

PROCESSES

6. UNDERSTANDS AND DEVELOPS

EMPATHY

5. SEES EVENTS HOLISTICALLY

4. PRODUCES DATA

3. USES A VARIETY OF TEHNIQUES

2. BECOMES DIRECTLY INVOLVED

WHAT DO FIELD RESEARCHERS DO?

1. OBSERVS ORDINARY EVENTS AND

EVERYDAY ACTIVITY

8. COPES WITH HIGH LEVEL OF

PERSONAL STRESS

7. OBSERVES ONGOING SOCIAL

PROCESSES

6. UNDERSTANDS AND DEVELOPS

EMPATHY

5. SEES EVENTS HOLISTICALLY

4. PRODUCES DATA

3. USES A VARIETY OF TEHNIQUES

2. BECOMES DIRECTLY INVOLVED

WHAT DO FIELD RESEARCHERS DO?

1. OBSERVS ORDINARY EVENTS AND

EVERYDAY ACTIVITY

8. COPES WITH HIGH LEVEL OF

PERSONAL STRESS

7. OBSERVES ONGOING SOCIAL

PROCESSES

6. UNDERSTANDS AND DEVELOPS

EMPATHY

5. SEES EVENTS HOLISTICALLY

4. PRODUCES DATA

3. USES A VARIETY OF TEHNIQUES

2. BECOMES DIRECTLY INVOLVED

WHAT DO FIELD RESEARCHERS DO?

1. OBSERVS ORDINARY EVENTS AND

EVERYDAY ACTIVITY

8. COPES WITH HIGH LEVEL OF

PERSONAL STRESS

7. OBSERVES ONGOING SOCIAL

PROCESSES

6. UNDERSTANDS AND DEVELOPS

EMPATHY

5. SEES EVENTS HOLISTICALLY

4. PRODUCES DATA

3. USES A VARIETY OF TEHNIQUES

2. BECOMES DIRECTLY INVOLVED

WHAT DO FIELD RESEARCHERS DO?

1. OBSERVS ORDINARY EVENTS AND

EVERYDAY ACTIVITY

8. COPES WITH HIGH LEVEL OF

PERSONAL STRESS

7. OBSERVES ONGOING SOCIAL

PROCESSES

6. UNDERSTANDS AND DEVELOPS

EMPATHY

5. SEES EVENTS HOLISTICALLY

4. PRODUCES DATA

3. USES A VARIETY OF TEHNIQUES

2. BECOMES DIRECTLY INVOLVED

WHAT DO FIELD RESEARCHERS DO?

1. OBSERVS ORDINARY EVENTS AND

EVERYDAY ACTIVITY

8. COPES WITH HIGH LEVEL OF

PERSONAL STRESS

7. OBSERVES ONGOING SOCIAL

PROCESSES

6. UNDERSTANDS AND DEVELOPS

EMPATHY

5. SEES EVENTS HOLISTICALLY

4. PRODUCES DATA

3. USES A VARIETY OF TEHNIQUES

2. BECOMES DIRECTLY INVOLVED

WHAT DO FIELD RESEARCHERS DO?

1. OBSERVS ORDINARY EVENTS AND

EVERYDAY ACTIVITY

8. COPES WITH HIGH LEVEL OF

PERSONAL STRESS

7. OBSERVES ONGOING SOCIAL

PROCESSES

6. UNDERSTANDS AND DEVELOPS

EMPATHY

5. SEES EVENTS HOLISTICALLY

4. PRODUCES DATA

3. USES A VARIETY OF TEHNIQUES

2. BECOMES DIRECTLY INVOLVED

WHAT DO FIELD RESEARCHERS DO?

1. OBSERVS ORDINARY EVENTS AND

EVERYDAY ACTIVITY

STEPS IN PERFORMING FIELD RESEARCH

Be flexible: in field research you will not follow clearly laid-out, pre-set, fixed steps.

Organize yourself: to conduct field research you must refine the skills of careful looking and listening, short-term memory, and regular writing.

Defocus: you need to empty your mind of preconceptions and take a broad view rather than focusing narrowly

Be self-aware: as a field researcher you need to know yourself and reflect on your personal experiences.

1. Prepare to enter the field

2. Select a field and gain access to it

3. Enter the field and establish social relations with subjects

4. Adopt a social role, learn the ropes, and get along with the subjects

5. Watch, listen and collect quality data

6. Disengage and physically leave the settings

STEPS IN PERFORMING FIELD RESEARCH

Select a site: your research question should guide you

Deal with gatekeepers: you should expect to negotiate with gatekeepers and bargain access

1. Prepare to enter the field

2. Select a field and gain access to it

3. Enter the field and establish social relations with subjects

4. Adopt a social role, learn the ropes, and get along with the subjects

5. Watch, listen and collect quality data

6. Disengage and physically leave the settings

STEPS IN PERFORMING FIELD RESEARCH

Gain entry into settings

Look for public information as outsider

Observe sensitive events 1. Prepare to enter the field

2. Select a field and gain access to it

3. Enter the field and establish social relations with subjects

4. Adopt a social role, learn the ropes, and get along with the subjects

5. Watch, listen and collect quality data

6. Disengage and physically leave the settings

Be passive observer

Affect events to reveal information

View most sensitive events or information

Level of trust

Time in the field site

STEPS IN PERFORMING FIELD RESEARCH

Adler&Adler suggest three roles:•Peripheral membership•Active membership•Complete member1. Prepare to enter the field

2. Select a field and gain access to it

3. Enter the field and establish social relations with subjects

4. Adopt a social role, learn the ropes, and get along with the subjects

5. Watch, listen and collect quality data

6. Disengage and physically leave the settings

Researchers entering a field site encounter not only participants but participants’ pre-existing categories for understanding the world-categories which will be applied to researchers as a way of getting a definitional ”handle” on their presence, and figuring out how to interact with them…researchers must be defined in terms that either enhance or do not threaten participants’ group identity

Harrington apud Neuman (2011)

STEPS IN PERFORMING FIELD RESEARCH

Field data are what you experience, remember and record in field notes.

Absorb and Experience: the researcher is the instrument for measuring field data.

Watch and Listen: a great deal of what you do in the field is to pay close attention, watch and listen carefully.

Record the data: most field research data are in the form of notes, maps, diagrams, photos etc.

1. Prepare to enter the field

2. Select a field and gain access to it

3. Enter the field and establish social relations with subjects

4. Adopt a social role, learn the ropes, and get along with the subjects

5. Watch, listen and collect quality data

6. Disengage and physically leave the settings

STEPS IN PERFORMING FIELD RESEARCH

Leaving affects subjects. Some may feel hurt or rejected because a close social relationship is ending. They may react may react by trying to pull you back into the field, or they may become angry and resentful. 1. Prepare to enter the field

2. Select a field and gain access to it

3. Enter the field and establish social relations with subjects

4. Adopt a social role, learn the ropes, and get along with the subjects

5. Watch, listen and collect quality data

6. Disengage and physically leave the settings

TYPES OF FIELD NOTES

Direct observation: Sunday, October 4. Kay’s Cafe, 3.00 pm. Large, white male in mid-40s, overweight, enters. He wears worn brown suit. He is alone; sits at booth 2. Kay comes by, asks What’ll it be? Man says Coffee, black for now. She leaves and he lights cigarette and reads menu. 3.15 Kay turns on radio.

Inference: Kay seems friendly today, humming. She becomes solemn and watchful. I think she puts on the radio when nervous.

Analytic: women are afraid of men who come in alone since the robbery

Personal journal: It is reining. I am feeling comfortable with Kay but I am bored today

TYPES OF MAPS USED IN THE FIELD Spatial maps Social map

Temporal map

table

mom Empty chair

elena’s boyfrie

ndelena

dad

Tv set. open

Kitchen door

open Mon Tue Wed Thr Fri Sat

10.00 Old drunks Old drunks Old drunks Old drunks Skip work or leave early

Going to fish

5.00 Neighbours and bridge player

Softball team (all-male night)

Football watchers

Young crowd Loud music, mixed crowd

Loners and no dates