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Doing Fieldwork
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Doing Fieldwork



December 2015 | 184 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

"This is not yet another step-by-step guide to research methods. Rather, Pole and Hillyard draw the reader into fieldwork as a form of living and lived research. They take key threads of research practices and processes and weave them into a holistic approach to fieldwork. Doing Fieldwork is a must read for new researchers planning a journey into the immersion of 'being there' that is field work."
- Professor Garry Marvin, University of Roehampton

Fieldwork is central to Sociology, but guides to it often treat the real questions invisibly or over-load the reader with micro-details. This refreshing, authoritative volume, written by two experienced, highly respected fieldworkers, provides a one-stop, engaging guide. The book:

  • Clearly explains fieldwork methods
  • Shows how to locate a field and map it
  • Covers common problem areas and ethical considerations
  • Provides a ready reckoner of time management issues
  • Helps with analysis of findings.

Doing Fieldwork is an invaluable teaching and research resource. It should be in every student’s backpack and part of every researcher’s tool kit.

Professor Chris Pole is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Brighton. His long-standing research interests are in social research methodology, especially Ethnography and in the Sociology of Education and Childhood.

Dr Sam Hillyard is a Reader in Sociology at Durham University. Her research interests are in qualitative research methods, interactionist social theory and rural studies. 

 
What is Fieldwork?
 
Finding the Field
 
Field Relations
 
Tools For the Field
 
Fieldwork: Values and Ethics
 
When It’s Time to Go
 
Analysis
 
Conclusions

This is not yet another step-by-step guide to research methods. Rather, Pole and Hillyard draw the reader into fieldwork as a form of living and lived research. They take key threads of research practices and processes and weave them into a holistic approach to fieldwork. Doing Fieldwork is a must read for new researchers planning a journey into the immersion of 'being there' that is field work.

Garry Marvin
University of Roehampton

Social Science has long needed a contemporary, high quality and rigorous text on fieldwork to move the debates forward from the pioneering contributions of Burgess in the early 1980s. Doing Fieldwork by Pole and Hillyard is that book. Well-researched, clearly written and replete with useful examples from across the social sciences Doing Fieldwork will no doubt have a broad appeal. It really is a celebration of fieldwork and all that we do as researchers.

John Goodwin
University of Leicester

Chris Pole and Sam Hillyard are serious about fieldwork: about doing it, about being in the field, and about analysing and interpreting the lives of others . Doing Fieldwork is a lively, insightful and student-friendly addition to any sociological bookshelf or reading list.

Dr Lynne Pettinger
University of Warwick

This expertise, clearly demonstrated by the frequently referenced illustration, is converted into a contagious enthusiasm about fieldwork. The book is subsequently an absolute must for those who want to take the first steps in the research world, and therefore very useful as teaching material in introductory courses

Lars Breuls & Jana Robberechts
KWALON

Good general introduction to the issues of undertaking fieldwork. Clear writing style

Dr Peter Oakley
School of Material, Royal College of Art
November 15, 2016

Very useful book which I will definitely order for my dissertation students for both undergrad and postgrad (MA in Education) which I have now taken leadership for. We do not have a directly equivalent text specifically on field work

Dr James William Percival
School of Education, Oxford Brookes University
December 9, 2015

Delivers methodological knowledge in plain language, very insightfull and of high didactical value

Professor Philipp Pohlenz
Faculty of Humanities, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg
January 21, 2016

This is a really strong piece of literature that should be regarded as essential reading for any scholar conducting field based research. The authors provide a insights into the theory and practice in a comprehensive manner. This may be particularly useful for post-graduate students and those committed to conducting situated research. Possibly the most engaging methodology book I have read in some time.

Mr Danny Golding
School of PE and Sport Sciences, Bedfordshire University
February 16, 2016

Fieldwork is an important method of undertaking research, yet it's often misunderstood. This book equips the fieldwork researcher with the necessary skills to undertake this form of activity.

Mr adam choonara
Natural Sciences, Middlesex University
December 9, 2015

Great starter text for those not as familiar with social research methodologies and entering research.

Ms Angie Boyle
Soc Wrk & Applied Behaviour (Carlisle), University of Cumbria
November 26, 2015

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1 - What is Fieldwork?


Christopher Pole

Chris Pole is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Brighton. More About Author

Sam Hillyard

Sam Hillyard is a Reader in Sociology at Durham in the United Kingdom. She is the series editor of Studies in Qualitative Methodology (Emerald) and a member of the editorial board for the journal Qualitative Research. Her research interests lie with the synergies between theoretical ideas and empirical ethnographic research. This interest has been applied across a variety of research settings: Recent projects include game shooting in the UK and access to elite higher education. These interests are reflected in a series of funding awards from the ESRC, the Rural Economy and Land Use programme (ESRC, NERC, and BBSRC), and Natural Resources... More About Author

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