Finding Your Feet in the Field: Critical Reflections of Early Career Researchers on Field Research in Transitional Societies

Surveys in Communities Divided by Ethnicity and Conflict: Challenges, Possible Solutions, and Lessons Learned from a Survey in Jos, Nigeria

“…Some scholars emphasize how the particular risks to researchers and research subjects depend on context-for example, the target of the violence, the number of warring parties or insurgent groups, whether the conflict is ongoing, whether the state is one of the parties to the conflict, and the type of violence employed (Duggan and Bush 2014;Helbardt et al 2010;Mazurana, Gale, and Jacobson 2013;Paluck 2009;Wood 2006Wood , 2013. For example, if the population is the subject of government repression (either in the context of violent conflict or its aftermath), cooperation with outside researchers on sensitive subjects entails risks to those choosing to participate in a study or agreeing to be interviewed, even if informed consent is followed (Browne and Moffett 2014;Campbell 2017;Cronin-Furman 2018;Eck 2011;Fujii 2008;Helbardt et al 2010;Kovats-Bernat 2002;Longman 2013;Moss et al 2019;Shesterinina 2018;Wood 2013). As Shesterinina (2018:192) notes, "Participation in research in these highly politicized conditions can result in retraumatization, local retaliation, and state investigations that can subject interlocutors to imprisonment, torture, and even death for sharing politically sensitive or potentially compromising information."…”

Using Participant-Produced Drawings as an Alternative to Photographs in Ethnographic Research

“…Such contexts will inform research ethical decision making about how, when and if photographs should be taken and published (Pink, 2007;Langmann & Pick, 2014;Wiles, Coffey, Robinson, & Prosser, 2012). As such, researchers need to be sensitive to the situational demands of the research setting and be responsive and adaptable in addressing ongoing ethical challenges (Browne & Moffett, 2014). Guillemin & Gillam (2004) make the distinction between procedural ethics (the practices mandated by ethical review panels) and ethics in practice (the ongoing ethical concerns that researchers face when in the field).…”

“…Lester & Anders (2018) suggest that procedural ethics may fail to anticipate the ethical dilemmas encountered in visual research and as such, researchers need to make ongoing decisions about what is ethically correct in a given context. This has specific significance in the context of sensitive research 1 (Lee, 1993), research involving vulnerable groups (Surmiak 2018), or research in conflict and post-conflict societies (Browne & Moffett, 2014;Dawson, 2007;Ganiel, 2013).…”

“…Additionally, I also engaged in pre-fieldwork exposure visits to familiarise myself with the research context. Browne & Moffett (2014) suggest that pre-fieldwork exposure helps to develop researcher experience, situational awareness and confidence. As part of this pre-fieldwork exposure, as well as visiting Northern Ireland on a regular basis, I also kept up to date with the day-today climate in the region by subscribing to regional news alerts.…”

Working with Others: Reflections on Fieldwork in Postconflict Societies

“…By acting as gatekeepers, local partners can assist in building trust with local communities, 23 soothing misgivings that might arise from the arrival of foreign researchers. 24 This becomes particularly important if the political situation within a state has become volatile, which may render participants more cautious or distrustful. By way of example, one project involved fieldwork during the lead up to an election, causing reluctance amongst participants to discuss anything they considered politically sensitive.…”