FIELDWORK PROJECT

A major goal of the course if for each student to conduct a small scale qualitative fieldwork project. The fieldwork project involves: selection of a topic, development of researchable question and research proposal, and conduct of a small scale field study. Depending of the topic of study, students will be expected to employ a full range of qualitative methods, including visiting the research site, practicing participant observation, conducting interviews with informants, arranging focus group discussions, maintaining fieldnotes, collecting archival/historical data as appropriate, recording data, etc.

The Proposal

Between weeks 1- 5 students will develop a research proposal. Proposals will include at least the following sections: specification of the research question(s) and significance, description of the research site/setting, research design (data collection and analysis strategies). Research proposals may not exceed 10 type-written pages. Students will orally present proposals in class on October 10. Final revised proposals will be handed in to Dr. Eckert on March 10.

The Field Project Report

Between weeks 6-10 students will conduct a field study incorporating qualitative methods. This will be an intense period in which students will enter their research site, observe, and conduct interviews. In addition to field visits and data collection, researchers will begin coding, analyzing and writing their final reports. Students will be expected to give 20-minute oral presentations on their research during classes 4/21,4/28,5/5.

Field project reports must not exceed 25 pages (page limit includes reflexive statement) and include the following components:

* The research question: a statement of the purpose of the project. What is the theoretical or substantive problem the study addresses?

* Background and rationale: why is the problem worth examining? References to relevant literature.

* Discussion of the research design

- The overall design

- Strategies for data collection

- Strategies for coding and analyzing data

- Strategies for presenting data

* Data presentation: what you found and what you think it means

* Conclusions and limitations: conclusions that tie together the originating question and rationale with the findings. Limitations of the study.

* Reflexive statement: a 3-5 page reflexive statement addressing the personal meaning of the fieldwork experience.