Ethnographic and Other Field Research Methods: Introduction

Traditionally considered the domain of anthropologists and ethnographers, conducting fieldwork has become increasingly common in a wide range of social science disciplines as researchers have sought to gain new insights into socio-political phenomena in an increasingly complex world with multiple – and often conflicting – knowledge claims.

Yet despite the increased prevalence of field-based methods, discussions of fieldwork frequently ignore the gap between theory and formal methods (how fieldwork is supposed to happen) and practice (how fieldwork really happens), with fieldwork presented as an objective and mechanical data collection exercise rather than as a complex, iterative and intersubjective process of data generation and interpretation. As a result, novice fieldworkers are left unprepared to negotiate the methodological, emotional, logistical and ethical challenges of working in the field.

The course is designed to begin addressing the gap between fieldwork theory and practice by providing people who are intending to conduct ethnographic/interpretive fieldwork but who as yet have little or no formal experience of fieldwork with a hands-on introduction to three key methods of data generation (observation, participant observation, and interviews) and issues related to their use.

Day 1
We begin with an overview of the course and the underpinning notion of an ‘ethnographic sensibility’, before moving to explore what fieldwork is and related questions, including what and where ‘the field’ is, what is distinctive about ethnographic fieldwork, and why fieldwork is used. I will set the first of five practical exercises at the end of day one, and we will draw on your experiences in subsequent discussions.

Day 2
Focus on observation. Discussion will explore what it means to see ethnographically and observation as a way to generate ‘thick description’. We’ll pay particular attention to what and how one observes, and how to record one’s observations in field notes. In the second practical exercise, you will practice observing ethnographically.

Day 3
The topic is participant observation. In addition to discussing the spectrum of ways in which the researcher can participate in the field and the implications of different forms of participation, we will consider issues of positionality, including the researcher’s role in data generation and her research more widely, as well as relationship management, power dynamics, ethics and consent, and safety and wellbeing. In the third practical exercise, you will try participating in ‘the field’ and experience (albeit in a limited way) the implications of positionality first-hand.

Day 4
Following an overview of how interviews can be used in interpretive fieldwork, discussion will focus firstly on the practicalities and potential complexities of interviewing, and secondly on processes of interpreting interviews in terms of maintaining reflexivity and an ethnographic sensibility. You will then put discussion into practice during the day’s practical exercise.

Day 5
The final day is devoted to the end phase of fieldwork and making the transition from ‘the field’ to ‘home’ and from fieldwork to deskwork. The primary aim of the session is to explore fieldwork as an embodied and situated experience of knowledge production and how field researchers can effectively manage the ‘dirt’ and ‘baggage’ that often accompanies field data – personally and professionally. In the final practical exercise, you will conduct a fieldworker debrief in pairs, reflecting on your experiences over the course.

The course combines presentations by the instructor, group discussions of key readings, and practical exercises (all of which you are expected to undertake).

Do try to relate the discussion of each day’s topics and questions to your own research projects and perspectives; as far as possible, I will try to accommodate requests to discuss particular issues.

This course is a hands-on introduction to ethnographic (interpretive-qualitative) fieldwork. 

It is for scholars with little or no formal experience of fieldwork, but who intend to conduct fieldwork as part of their research.

There are no prerequisites, but you should be open to engaging with materials drawn from a range of social science disciplines including anthropology, human geography, political science, and sociology.

Each course includes pre-course assignments, including readings and pre-recorded videos, as well as daily live lectures totalling at least three hours. The instructor will conduct live Q&A sessions and offer designated office hours for one-to-one consultations.

Please check your course format before registering.

Online courses

Live classes will be held daily for three hours on a video meeting platform, allowing you to interact with both the instructor and other participants in real-time. To avoid online fatigue, the course employs a pedagogy that includes small-group work, short and focused tasks, as well as troubleshooting exercises that utilise a variety of online applications to facilitate collaboration and engagement with the course content.

In-person courses

In-person courses will consist of daily three-hour classroom sessions, featuring a range of interactive in-class activities including short lectures, peer feedback, group exercises, and presentations.

Disclaimer

This course description may be subject to subsequent adaptations (e.g. taking into account new developments in the field, participant demands, group size, etc.). Registered participants will be informed at the time of change.

By registering for this course, you confirm that you possess the knowledge required to follow it. The instructor will not teach these prerequisite items. If in doubt, please contact us before registering.