DOING GLOBAL FIELDWORK: A SOCIAL SCIENTISTS GUIDE TO MIXED METHODS RESEARCH FAR FROM HOME

Book Details:

• Author: Jesse Driscoll

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2024

• ISBN: 9788131613788

• Pages: 264

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book

In Doing Global Fieldwork, political scientist Jesse Driscoll provides a practical guide for social scientists embarking on extended mixed-methods international fieldwork. Drawing from his extensive experience in difficult settings, Driscoll offers insight into the challenges that researchers encounter when working in unfamiliar or volatile environments. The book covers all stages of fieldwork, from initial planning to navigating obstacles like political instability, to writing up findings after returning home.

Driscoll emphasizes adaptability, stressing that in the field, plans will change and problems will arise. He provides essential advice on the psychological and physical preparation needed for fieldwork, as well as strategies for professionalization and self-presentation. The book also covers ethical considerations and the complexities of data collection in sensitive environments, including conflict zones and nondemocratic states. Doing Global Fieldwork is a no-nonsense, up-to-date guide that prepares graduate students and social science researchers for the unpredictable nature of fieldwork in challenging settings.

Contents

1. Welcome to the Guild

2. How to Prepare to Leave Your Home Institution

3. How to Think About Self-Presentation Once You Arrive

4. How to Think About Solo Data Collection

5. How to Think Like a Manager

6. How to Weigh Risks in Difficult Settings

7. How to Come Home

About the Author

Jesse Driscoll is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of Warlords and Coalition Politics in Post-Soviet States (2015) and has conducted research in challenging regions including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Somalia, Georgia, and Ukraine. His expertise in fieldwork in difficult political and social environments makes him a trusted voice for researchers working in international settings.