International Fieldwork in Development Contexts: Postgraduate Training Workshop.
North East Doctoral Training Centre: ESRC Advanced Training Module. This will be held on the 6th -7th February at Newcastle University, Post Graduate Training Suite, 7th floor Daysh Building. To register please contact Ann Williamson-Forster DTC Administrator:hass.pgtraining@ncl.ac.uk.
Speakers include: Cheryl MacEwan (Durham University); Matt Baillie Smith and Katy Kenkins (Northumbria University); Nina Laurie and Susanne Speak (Newcastle University).
The workshop also involved a number of peer learning panels including presentations from and discussion with PGs who have recently completed fieldwork as well as an interactive active panel with a number of students currently ‘in the field’.
All presenters will draw on personal experience and fieldwork case studies. A workshop pack will include further reading, key contacts and summaries.
Topics to be covered include:
· Theoretical and Methodological Considerations.
Conceptualising the field; fieldwork at home and abroad; researcher positionality; politics of fieldwork; research in challenging situations (e.g. conflict areas), reflexivity.
· Access and Ethics
Gaining entry and access to information, research sites, resources, subjects, communities; collecting sensitive, personal information; dealing with gender issues; confidentiality; peer pressure on research subjects; avoiding bias; social relationships of field research; research fatigue; expectations that the research will produce economic outcomes.
· Practical issues.
Bureaucratic requirements; visas; vaccinations; risk assessments; cultural considerations; safety for lone researchers; safety for women in the field, families and fieldwork.
· Data Analysis and ensuring research has an impact (makes a difference)
This will explore what we can understand impact to be in development contexts and include examples from individual and collaborative research.