Field Work Assignment - Geography

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Fieldwork Techniques and Practice, Ethical Issues and Theoretical Goals
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Fieldwork Techniques and Practice, Ethical Issues and Theoretical Goals
Field work is one of the key research methods used by human and geographic researchers to
explore and gather data about a group of people, places or even landscapes. The information
gathered from fieldwork study is then used to create knowledge about relationships between a
society and the space in different ethnographic settings (Sluka & Robben, 2007). Irrespective of
the fieldwork study approach that researcher choses to gather information, there are a number of
issues that arise concerning how the study should be conducted. Researchers such as
Malinowski, Geertz and Rosaldo conducted out investigation to explain some of the major
considerations and perspectives of conducting field work and ethnographic studies. This work is
focused in discussing some of the issues discussed in the evolution of how field work is
conducted. Furthermore the paper will include an informal field work and interpretation. Lastly
the paper will discuss whether the interpretation gotten close to the insider’s point of view and
the ethical issues that arose during the study and interpretation of the field work.
Issues on how fieldwork is conducted
Field work is one of the central techniques used by researchers to conduct and gather information
about a particular group of people, place or about practices of a group of people. Fieldwork
research is a qualitative research method that is aimed to gather information on a particular group
of people or events through close observation and interactions to obtain greater understanding of
the people in their natural setting (Sluka & Robben, 2007). Field study is usually focused on a
specific group of people in a particular setting. However, the study is always centered in
observing and analyzing the behavior of people in a specific setting, looking at cause and effects
of certain behaviors (Geertz, 2000). There are different field study approaches that researchers

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may use to gather information including direct observation and ethnographic studies among
others. Irrespective of the method used, there are several considerations that the researcher
should align with for successful field study. Before conducting fieldwork, the researcher should
first consider the choice and description of the research method to be used to conduct a particular
field research.
One of the critical issues on the evolution of how to conduct field research is the use of previous
research literature to gather additional information regarding a group of people. However,
according to Malinowski, relying on previous literature as source of information may sometimes
be unreliable due to the biases of the researcher. It is not possible to know the conditions in
which the research was made and the conclusions made (Malinowski, 2013). As a result,
choosing a method thus as participant observation in ethnographic research would yield the most
reliable information. According to Malinowski (2013), while using such ethnographic sources to
draw conclusions, a researcher should draw a line between the results of direct observation and
native interpretations and statements, and the inferences made by the author. In addition to the
method of research technique, the security and cultural practices are also an important issue that
researchers should look at when conducting fieldwork. The researcher should not interfere with
the way of life of a particular group of people as this would result in exclusion or possible
lawsuit against the researchers. Also, the hostility of the group should be an important issue.
Researchers should consider those places where the inhabitants are not hostile to strangers to
avoid worst scenario cases of rebellion from the participants. Lastly, the issue of time and cost of
the field study research is central in conducting field research. To obtain valuable information,
the researchers must dedicate a significant amount of time and funds to understand the cultural
practices of particular groups of people.

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According to Renato Rasaldo (1989) and Bronislaw Malinowski (2013), from the anthropology
perspectives, there are certain considerations and principles that researchers should consider
while doing ethnographic studies. First, the researcher must clearly understand the principles,
criteria and values of ethnographic studies. Secondly, the researcher should separate himself
from the outside world and put himself in the context of the participants. He should adopt their
ways of life and practices and identify themselves with the participants. Lastly, ethnographic
studies are very critical and thus the researcher should consider using different research
techniques such as observation, interviews and literature review to obtain significant amount of
information.
Informal Fieldwork and interpretations of the issues arising
For the purpose of this assignment, the informal fieldwork study conducted was direct
observation on football game. In this study to understand the culture of football games, I took a
close observation to a match between Manchester United and Chelsea. Before the match started,
I observed the players coming from the changing rooms with each players of a team aligned in a
single line. As they entered the pitch, some player aligned on one side of the pitch while others
on the opposite sides. The captains were then called and with tossing of a coin it were
determined who was to start the kickoff. This was to avoid conflict and confusion. Along the
side of the pitch were assistant referees with flags and goalkeepers on the opposite goal posts.
Before the game kicks off, the players take a moment of silent in respect to black lives. The
players for both teams coordinate with each while following the rules of the game. On the arena
are the fans for both teams seated and cheering for their teams. The game went for 45 minutes
and the players rested for 15 minutes before resuming for the second half of the game. At the end

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of the 90th minute, the players walked back to the changing room after shaking hands with the
opponents.
The players, referee, assistant referees and fans and the coaches all participate in the game to
make it enjoyable and fulfilling. I think all the parties involved including the fans are much
interested and overwhelmed about the match. However, the defeated lot is disappointed about the
outcome of the game. The event is viewed by most of the research participants as a unifying
factor as well. Participants take different roles to ensure the success of the event.
The insider’s Point of View
Even though the informal field study involved a direct observation as a study approach, I think
the research failed to capture the insider’s point of view of the player. Some of the possible
interpretation of the event may include national cohesion, nurturing of talents or economic
development through football games. In the interpretations of the above event, the omission of
how personality of individuals can affect their understanding and view of football match could
interfere with obtaining the insider perspectives. Additionally, personal views and personality
traits are likely to interfere with my interpretations and generalizations of the event as I do not
like football games. In order to obtain better grasp of the insider point of view, I should have
employed probing questions that are directed to personal views of the event. For instance, I may
have considered asking what makes a player to take a particular position on the field, and how
they view football as a whole. As the study involved participant observation one of the ethical
issues that might have arisen in the study is that of informed consent (Sanjari et al, 2014). The
study did not involve the participants in determining the terms and conditions as well as the type
of information to be collected.

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References
Geertz, C. (2000). Deep play: Notes on the Balinese cockfight. In Culture and politics (pp. 175-
201). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Malinowski, B. (2013). Argonauts of the western Pacific: An account of native enterprise and
adventure in the archipelagoes of Melanesian New Guinea [1922/1994]. Routledge.
Rosaldo, R. (1989). Culture and truth: Renewing the anthropologist's search for meaning.
Beacon Press.
Sanjari, M., Bahramnezhad, F., Fomani, F. K., Shoghi, M., & Cheraghi, M. A. (2014). Ethical
challenges of researchers in qualitative studies: The necessity to develop a specific
guideline. Journal of medical ethics and history of medicine, 7.
Sluka, J. A., & Robben, A. C. G. M. (2007). Fieldwork in cultural anthropology: An
introduction. Ethnographic fieldwork: An anthropological reader, 2, 1-48.