The aim of this course is to introduce how to conduct fieldwork by using qualitative research techniques, namely in-depth interviews on a selected topic (s). It will also focus on the roles and identities of the researcher in the field and ethnical aspects on conducting fieldwork.

Lectures and Classes:

Each week we shall approach a topic using a combination of lectures, mini-lectures, classes and seminar sessions along with extensive  practical sessions throughout the term.

Students are highly encouraged to attend the lectures each week. It is essential that students prepare for class by reading the required readings each week. The lecturer will ensure that copies of all recommended readings are available. 

Assessment: 

One essay: 15p. 

Designing a Questionnaire: 15 points

Conducting In-depth Interviews: 30 points

Term Paper: 30 points

Textbooks:

Bryman, A. & Burgess, R.G. (eds) (1999) Qualitative Research, London: Sage.

Burgess, R.G. (2000) In the Field-An Introduction to Field Research, London: Routledge.

Mason, J. (1996) Qualitative Researching, London: Sage.

Seale, C. (ed.) (1998) Researching Society and Culture, London: Sage.

Weinberg, D. (2002) Qualitative Research Methods, Malden: Blackwell Publishers

Reference Books:

Arksey, H. & Knight. P. (1999) Interviewing for Social Scientists, London: Sage.

COURSE SYLLABUS:

Week 1  (8 March): Introduction: 

Week 2 ( 15 March): How to Formulate a Research Question

Week 3 (22 March): Introduction to Qualitative Research 

Merton, R. K. (1972) ‘Insiders and Outsiders: A Chapter in the Sociology of Knowledge’, The American Journal of Sociology, 78 (1).

Adams, Laura L. (1999) ‘The Mascot Researcher: Identity, Power and Knowledge in Fieldwork,’ Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 28:4, pp. 331-363.

Guevarra, Anna Romina (2006) ‘The Balikbayan Researcher: Negotiating Vulnerability in Fieldwork with Filipino Labor Brokers,’ Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 35:5, pp. 526-551.

Bolak, H. C. (1996) ‘Studying One’s Own in the Middle East: Negotiating Gender and Self-Other Dynamics in the Field’, Qualitative Sociology, 19 (1).

Week 4 (29 March): Relations in the Field

Topics to be covered: role problems, insider-outsider relationship, active and passive participation

Kalır, B. (2006) ‘The field of work and the work of Field: Conceptualizing an Anthropological Research Engagement’, Social Anthropology, 14 (2).

Lomba De Andrade, L. (2000) ‘Negotiating from the Inside’, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 29 (3).

Sherif, B. (2001) ‘The Ambiguity of Boundaries in the Fieldwork Experience: Establishing Rapport and Negotiating Insider/Outsider Status’, Qualitative Inquiry, 7(4), pp. 436-447

Ergun, A. & Erdemir, A. (2010) ‘Negotiating Insider and Outsider Identities in the Field: “Insider” in a Foreign Land, “Outsider” in one’s own Land’, Field Methods (2010), 22(1) pp. 16-38 

Week 5 (5 April): Qualitative Research Design & Fieldwork

Topics to be covered: research question, evolving the research design, research techniques characteristics of the qualitative research, qualitative research techniques, designing a qualitative study

&

definition of fieldwork; varieties of fieldwork; What do we do when we first go to an ‘unknown’ field? How do we familiarise with the field?; How do we find interviewees? How do we construct the relationship between interviewee and interviewer? Single case study, comparative study. What do we do before the fieldwork, during the fieldwork and after the fieldwork?

Gery W. Ryan and H. Russell Bernand (2003) “Techniques to Identify Themes” Field Methods, https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X02239569

Mason, J (1996) ‘Planning and Designing Qualitative Research’ in Qualitative Researching, London: Sage

Goldbart, J., Hustler, D. (2005) ‘Ethnography’ in B. Somekh and C. Lewin (eds.) Research Methods in Social Sciences, London: Sage.

Mccall, G.J. (2006) ‘The Fieldwork Tradition’ D. Hobbs and R. Wright (eds.) The Sage Handbook of Fieldwork, London: Sage

Silverman, D. (1997) ‘The Logics of Qualitative Research’ in G. Miler and R. Dingwall (eds.)

Week 6 (12 April) Interviews 

Week 7 to Week 13: Fieldwork

Week 14:  (7 June ): Presentations