Experiencing Fieldwork: An Inside View of Qualitative Research

Recording the Personal: The Benefits in Maintaining Research Diaries for Documenting the Emotional and Practical Challenges of Fieldwork in Unfamiliar Settings

“…In providing these personal reflections, I share the view of Shaffir and Stebbins (1991), who suggested that "Learning about the research experiences of others is essential for students because it enables them to anticipate more accurately the trials and rewards of their own research efforts" (p. xi). My reflections are framed in such a way as to be practically beneficial in outlining potential pitfalls and dangers while also highlighting the emotional impact of fieldwork.…”

“…As qualitative researchers, it is incumbent upon us to think reflexively about the challenges negotiated and overcome during the data collection process, but often these reflections are shoehorned into an already overflowing methodology section in the final thesis and rarely given the credence which I fervently maintain they deserve. As Shaffir and Stebbins (1991) again highlighted:…”

IRRODL Volume 12, Number 5

“…The analysis tried to "describe, decode, translate, and otherwise come to terms with the meaning, not the frequency, of certain more or less naturally occurring phenomena in the social world" (Van Maanen, 1983, p. 9). It was considered that such an analytical approach would reveal fragmentary insights and emergent themes within the surveys analyzed (Adams & Schvaneveldt, 1985;Shaffir & Stebbins, 1991).…”

Accessing Large Corporations: Research Ethics and Gatekeeper-Relations in the Case of Researching a Japanese-Invested Factory

“…It is, however, hoped for that the account may be of interest also to the general community of sociologists both because it is being based on a concrete case and because it may touch upon ethical issues of general relevance. In other words, although many 'social science textbooks on methodology usually provide an idealised conceptualisation of how social research ought to be designed and executed' (Shaffir andStebbins, 1991, as cited in Waddington, 1994: p. 107), this account differs from these by being based on experience. Moreover, problems similar to the ones described in this paper might obviously be present also in connection with research within other types of organisations and other settings, and the paper might thus contribute as material for use in comparative studies regarding these issues.…”