Starting yourField

Research

Why conduct field research?

To create knowledge

To enhance credibility

To establish your niche

To support your argument

Observation

Observations

Determine purpose

What are you looking for?

Determine a system for recording data: When, where, who, what, how often?

Record the date, time, and place of all observations

Interview

Interview Determine your purpose? Why is it useful to

your research question?

Why is that person/s credible?

Set up interview in advance.

Prepare a list of questions (factual and open-ended)

Record the subject, date, time, and place

Thank your interviewee

Questionnaire

Questionnaire Write out your purpose and review your

research question

Figure out how many respondents you need

Draft potential questions. Each question must require a short, specific answer

Open ended vs. Closed questions

Identify who you will survey and why they are relevant to your question

Focus Groups

Can get multiple perspectives

Establish a conversation

See how a group of people react to a particular issue

Generate data for further analysis

You can use focus groups in conjunction with interviews and surveys

If you are conducting research with human subjects…

Complete CITI training. Go to:

https://www.citiprogram.org/default.asp?language=english

---Register for an account, and complete training for:

Group 2: Social & Behavioral Research Investigators and Key Personnel

---Print completion page and turn in with your final project.

Before your conference

Read Chapter 11 in your textbook, and complete Proposal Part II

Bring proposal to your conference so that we can discuss your study

The next time that we will meet as a class will be Friday, 3/30. Don’t skip that day! Bring whatever progress you’ve made on your field research (which should be a lot!).