Fieldwork seminar: Risks, Harms and Benefits. Undertaking Field Research in Sensitive Environments

with Assistant Professor Nena Močnik, Department for Cultural Studies, University of Ljubljana  

Abstract

Although conducting qualitative research might present a challenge in every setting, this session will focus particularly on the environments that could be harmful and dangerous for both, researcher and research participants. After brief case study introduction, students will have the opportunity to reflect and discuss on their own research projects, considering and potential risks, harms and benefits that can occur (or be avoided) by using different methodologies and ethics.

 

Suggested readings

Grant Ruth W.  and Jeremy Sugarman. 2004.Ethics in Human Subjects Research: Do Incentives Matter? Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 29(6): 717–738

Maguire, P. 1993. Challenges, contradictions and celebrations: attempting participatory research as a doctoral student. In Park, P., Brydon-Miller, M., Hall, B. and Jackson, T. (eds) Voices of change: participatory research in the USA and Canada, OISE Press, Toronto, pp 157-176.

Manzo, L.C. and Brightbill, N. 2007. Towards a participatory ethics. In Kindon, S., Pain, R. and Kesby, M. (eds) Participatory action research approaches and methods: connecting people, participation and place, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, pp 33-40.

 

 

Fieldwork in the Humanities – a series of PhD seminars at ToRS

Fieldwork is at the core of many of the PhD projects at ToRS and a productive period ’in the field’ is crucial for a successful thesis. The time allowed for fieldwork is, however, limited and it is therefore of importance to have an opportunity to discuss plans and alternatives, to be able to share experiences after coming back from fieldwork and to have response on drafts of analysis when the thesis text is about to take shape.

We would therefore like to introduce a series of regular PhD seminars at ToRS on the uses of fieldwork in the humanities. During the seminars there will be an opportunity to present texts (plans, reports, drafts of analysis), discuss and scrutinize various methods for fieldwork – and report experiences as well as discuss theoretical reflections on fieldwork as a method. Fieldwork can be conducted in a number of ways and from very different analytical perspectives; many of them at work in various ToRS projects. The purpose of the seminars is not to streamline your projects, but to open up a forum for discussions about how to plan a fieldwork and still be flexible, choices of documentation, follow-up and where to draw the line. In short: share and learn from others; from tentative research questions to submission of a thesis based on fieldwork.

Some of the issues that will be discussed during the seminars:

  • designing a fieldwork plan and preparing for surprises and change of plans
  • the relation between research questions and choice of field method
  • documentation: technique, ethics and archiving
  • follow-up and processual analysis
  • combining fieldwork material(s) with other sources
  • combining fieldwork material(s) with historical studies
  • literature on fieldwork

 

It is strongly recommended that those of you who use fieldwork material in your thesis continuously take active part in these seminars. The seminars are intended to be a platform for discussions for every stage of fieldwork and for fieldwork in the broadest understanding of the concept. Archaeological, archival, literary and political angles are more than welcome.

Each seminar has a theme, and literature will be circulated beforehand as a preparation for the discussions. At each seminar will also one, or more PhD, candidate(s) present a piece from her/his on-going work.

ECTS: 1,8 for paper presentation and 0,3 for active participation.