Fieldwork for Social Research

A Student's Guide

For many students, fieldwork is seen as a daunting prospect. Many who conduct social research at an undergraduate level have little to no experience working in the field, with many students having moved into the discipline after studying a broad range of subjects during their A-Levels or equivalent. This book is the perfect introduction for undergraduates to how to do research across various social science disciplines. Richard and Jennifer have written warmly and caringly, guiding students through the challenges and joys of conducting research. This style can be seen through the engagement with not just the typical idea of an undergraduate student or classical forms of fieldwork but from the wide range of students and fieldwork types that the book engages with and speaks to. The book demonstrates that research is for any student in many places.

Using postcards from other researchers inspiringly illustrates the broad range of research methods and fields within the social sciences, capturing your imagination as you read. One of the most vital aspects of this book is the contributions from a wide range of social scientists, from undergraduates and PhD students to established doctors and professors. The wide range of ideas and experiences helps make fieldwork appear accessible to all audiences. 

This book is relevant and useful for anyone engaging in social sciences, from an undergraduate to a PhD student like myself, alongside more senior colleagues looking for a new research direction. 

This book offers an excellent guide and thought-provoking reflections for students and researchers undertaking fieldwork across the social sciences, arts and humanities. Phillips and Johns creatively show the powerful and transformative process of conducting fieldwork, highlighting its challenges and opportunities.

The first part comprehensively discusses the concept of fieldwork and its importance for social sciences, drawing on different perspectives from some of the book's contributors. The authors - in a practical, ethical and fun way - show how curiosity is a key element for academic research projects. The second part emphasises the importance of conducting ethical fieldwork, beyond minimum university requirements, and of decolonising fieldwork, breaking its colonial, Eurocentric and gendered roots and traditions. Especially for those who have never conducted research with human participants before and don’t know where to start, its reflections on ethics, collaborative work and inclusivity are fundamental.

By providing plenty of real-life examples, the final part presents a range of different methods to illustrate many creative possibilities for ethical and effective data collection and analysis. In particular, the chapters on Digital Fieldwork and Social Media for Fieldwork nicely summarise the use of digital tools in social research and its ethical implications and provide a range of examples on how social researchers are using them; thus, advancing a debate that is very current and is gaining more and more space in academic research. The clear guidance of different ways to disseminate your research findings online - and ethically - is particularly noteworthy.