What is fieldwork?

⮚ Field work is a process of data collection using survey methods such as

face-to-face interviews; telephone, postal, and online surveys; or observation.
Each of these methods require different amount of field work and different
degrees of skills and effort to administer the data collection process, execute the
task of actual collection of data, and to finally get the data ready for analysis.
How is fieldwork done?
Preparation
⮚ Develop your main concepts, think about operationalization and
measurement issues and make a data collection plan. Components of
your research design may (and definitely will) change over the course of
this iterative process, but a sound research design and data collection
plan generate sound and meaningful strategic decisions in the field.
Regardless of the type of fieldwork, develop a list of contacts and start
building a network ahead of time.  Get in touch with the people and
institutions in the field site even before you go there. Having a list of
dependable, previously acquainted contacts will help a lot in the first
difficult days of the fieldwork. All of this preparation can be done while you
are in your home institution; yet if the time and resources permit, it is
always better to make a trip to your field site to lay the groundwork before
starting your actual fieldwork.
What do you need to produce as an output observation?
⮚ First, you need to think about ways to obtain and store data. It is usually
difficult to transport all the printed materials to your home institution. In
most cases, you need to scan the documents or just take photos.
Collecting the right kind of materials during fieldwork helps a lot when you
start analyzing the data. Second, even in these methods, there is
interaction. If you do research in an archive, a library or a government
institution, the staff working there can be your best allies or worst enemies
depending on the relationship you develop with them. If you establish
good rapport or even become friends with these individuals, it will save
you lots of time and energy.
 Ethical considerations

How to develop a good questionnaire? (Parts and components)

● Need to know what needs to be measured – Having a clear picture and

understanding of what data needs to be collected contributes to the quality of data
collection
● Should know how to word/frame question and words should be neutral and should
not be leading – Whatever your opinion may be, own opinion should never be
reflected in the questions. This is done both intentionally and unintentionally but
should be taken care of.
● Emphasis on right word/phrase should be kept in mind – The language should be
clear so that the required data can be received. This also makes the question and
the requirement of survey easy to understand and thus help in getting a better
response and answer.
● Define and qualify terms – This is most essential when a technical survey or a
field specific survey is being done. If you think that the audience being surveyed
might not know about some terms than they must be defined to get any proper
response. This will increase the quality and decrease the bounce rate or number
of questions which were left unanswered.
● Avoid double negatives or more than 1 negative word in question – Use of
negative word has a psychological effect and can influence the answer.
● Sufficient or adequate alternatives should be provided – Available options should
have the most expected answers
● Multiple questions in question should be avoided – One question should have one
answer. If more than one question needs to be asked than it should be made a
separate question to improve clarity of questions.
● Word requiring emphasis should be emphasized – It helps in making a point and
question clear
● options like good/bad/fair/average should be quantified through photographs or
other mean – These are very vague terms and interpretations of these varies from
person to person
● Unwanted assumptions should be avoided – A survey is about getting factual data
and assumptions should be avoided.
References:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781444316568.wiem02047/abstract
https://www.themaydan.com/2017/01/quick-guide-fieldwork/
https://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/org/percs/EthicsModuleforWeb.pdf
https://planningtank.com/planning-techniques/characteristics-of-a-good-questionnaire