Emotions, Encounters and Expectations: The Uncertain Ethics of 'The Field'

Abstract

Entering 'the field' can be a daunting, demanding and at times bewildering experience, with researchers negotiating a myriad of assumptions, expectations and motivations. Whilst early career researchers and doctoral students may be trained in theories of research practice, research design and ethical conduct, the realities of actually doing research often test the limits of such formal training and knowledge. In this practice note, I draw upon my experience of fieldwork in the UK working with dispersed asylum seekers and refugees in order to discuss the challenges faced in encountering 'the field'. The note discusses how ethnographic research with asylum seekers and refugees produced a series of entanglements of emotional connection and expectation, as research in practice demanded the dissolution of fixed categories of the researcher, the volunteer, the advocate and the friend. In tracing a path through the messy realities of working with asylum seekers in this way, I argue that encountering 'the field' cannot be parcelled off into distinct chunks of time, but demands a constant attentiveness to context and constant work to develop skills of listening, observing, questioning and perseverance. The note concludes by asserting the need to take seriously the ways in which fieldwork produces more than simply 'data'. Rather, fieldwork produces sensibilities and dispositions, it alters researchers and those they encounter in often unpredictable ways.

Challenges in accessing fieldwork in rural Himalayas: An emerging researcher's experiences

“…However, I was cautious about smiling at the females if they did not already know me as I was aware it might be culturally offensive. In this context, I recalled several researchers' experiences (Brown, 2009;Darling, 2014;Okumus et al, 2007;Riaz, 2013;Widding, 2012) that suggested the need to exercise flexibility and reflexivity while entering the research field. For example, Subedi (2006) completed high school in Nepal and studied higher education in the USA but also experienced the need to re-negotiate the basis of the interaction between researcher and participants when entering the field in Nepal.…”

“…As such, I look forward to this project as both an exciting and challenging stage of the entire research, supported by the three other named authors. Darling (2014) stated that entering the field can be a daunting and bewildering experience where researchers may have to adjust and compromise with many assumptions and expectations. I noted that entry into fieldwork is often an early and harsh test of the research design and ethical demeanour that doctoral students have been theoretically trained to practice.…”

“The wound is still open”: the Nakba experience among internally displaced Palestinians in Israel

“…The study of social trauma and vulnerable groups can have emotional repercussions on the participants, researchers and the readers alike (Darling, 2014;Hugman et al, 2011;Refugee Studies Center, 2007), particularly when they belong to conflicting social groups (Chaitin, 2003).…”

Carpe noctem: Forschen auf dem Strich – Reflexion ethischer und methodologischer Hürden

“…Gallo, 2009 (Darling, 2014) und zum anderen ein Zugeständnis punkto Unwissenheit innerhalb der Feldforschung ermöglichen (vgl. England, 1994).…”