Field Work
This article discusses some of the different definitions of field work, tips for preparing for field visits, and advice about balancing time in the field with other research activities.
What is Field Work?
The definition of field work varies from project to project. While each field experience is unique and yours may not align exactly with previous researchers, the list below provides an idea of how respondents described field work during their Fulbright grant:
- In-person interviews with respondents either at their home, work, or at a community event such as an NGO event (both individual and group interviews)
- In-person observations of organizations or research participants
- In-person visits to research sites such as schools, nurseries, and health clinics
- Surveys of communities or groups of respondents
- Archival research at archives or libraries
- Visits to archaeological and religious sites
- Participation in community groups such as theater
- Photography of research participants
- Living with members of the research community
- Visits to museums
Preparing for Field Work
Fulbright researchers reflected on what they learned about preparing for field work and how they knew they were ready to begin their field work. The list below provides a summary of the recommendations from former researchers about preparing for field work. Note that the list is not in order and may not be applicable for every project.
- Compile a literature review
- Complete an ethics review processes (the earlier the better)
- Prepare a strategic plan including a rough schedule for each month and the items that need to be completed while in the field for that month
- Be prepared to adapt! You may have limited access to your computer, phone, etc.
- If possible, take a tour of your field site before beginning your field work
- Think through your research team. Who will assist you? Who will do what? (See the section on field work teams below for more on this.)
- Prepare a list of materials/equipment required for your field work
- Identify local contacts and build relationships with people at your field site (this may be a condition for starting your field work)
- Clearly articulate your methods in writing, including your sampling plan and protocol
- Prepare your questions ahead of time, whether they are in the form of a survey, questions you plan to ask informally, ideas you want to discuss, etc.
- Secure permission from your field site to do your field work
- Consider having a “pilot” phase for testing out tools and strategies
- Gain as many relevant local language skills as possible
- Contact the librarian at the archives you plan to visit
While it can be intimidating to decide that you are ready to dive into your field work, several researchers recommended getting into the field as soon as possible. For example, one researcher offered the following advice: “I think as soon as you can get into the field the better because ultimately your findings will always change direction once you see the situation on the ground.”
Time Spent in the Field
Note: Fulbright grant recipients receive grants to carry out research projects for a specific period of time, usually between 9–12 months. The information below is based on survey questions about how researchers budgeted their time on field work and other research-related activities during the grant period.
All 38 respondents said that they spent at least some time in the field during their research grant. The majority of respondents (36.8%) said that they began their field work within the first month of starting their grant. While a significant number of researchers began their field work in the second and third month as well (28.9% and 21.1%, respectively), all researchers began their field work by the end of the fifth month of their grant.
While the amount of time spent in the field varied significantly between researchers, 57.9% of researchers spent between seven to nine months in the field. The chart below provides a more detailed look at how many months researchers spent in the field during their Fulbright grant:
While most researchers spent a significant amount of time in the field during their research, one researcher advised that, “[The amount of time you spend in the field] really depends on your project. I would stay in the field as much as possible, also giving yourself time to write notes and reflect.” Many respondents recommended spending a consistent number of hours in the field each day and breaking up longer chunks of field work with visits to your home city. According to one researcher, “My visits to the schools were only 3–4 hours. I wouldn’t recommend anything longer than that.” Another shared that, “I stayed [in the field for a] maximum [of] 6 weeks at a time, but I think 3–4 weeks would have been better.”
Several researchers stated that the amount of time spent in the field depends on the needs of the research project and the researcher’s mental and physical health. One research found that shorter trips to the field were best for them, recommending staying in the field, “As long as your mental and physical health will allow! For me, living in a village home was taxing due to privacy norms and I found frequent short trips were better for me.” On the other hand, some researchers chose longer-term arrangements for their field work. One researcher, “…lived “in the field,” which I think is great if you can do it. However, some breaks and trips are helpful to give perspective and rest. I recommend two months at a time minimum, but I think it really depends on the project! It’s very difficult to set a standard because the projects are so different.”
