Fieldwork and Research Methodoly Assignment: Topic: Fieldwork - An Integral Part of Geography

FIELDWORK AND
RESEARCH
METHODOLY
ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC: FIELDWORK – AN INTEGRAL

PART OF GEOGRAPHY
Submitted By:
Hrishi Raj Thakur
Roll No-3012
B.A.(H) Geography Semester IV
FIELDWORK: AN
INTEGRAL PART OF
GEOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION:
Fieldwork means learning directly in the real world outside the
classroom. It is one of the distinctive features of a geographical
education. It is an essential part of Geography as it provides a ‘real
world’ opportunity for students to develop and extend their
geographical understanding. Fieldwork can open young people’s
minds to what is around them and in the process teach them a wide
range of skills. It makes a significant contribution to students
intellectual development and at the same time stimulate their
interest in the environment. As fieldwork provides social and shared
experiences, it can help students develop confidence, teamwork,
communication skills etc.
ROLE OF FIELDWORK
1. CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT:
Fieldwork in geography helps students improve their knowledge
and understanding of the subject. It helps bridge the divide
between the classroom and the real world. Seeing the various
geographical phenomena in real word helps reinforce students’
ideas and perception about the geographical terminology and
processes. Thus, fieldwork provides a means of contextualizing
students learning and contributing to their cognitive
development.
2. SKILL DEVELOPMENT:
When students are engaged in Fieldwork it provides them an
opportunity to experience ‘real research’. Fieldwork teaches
students the basics of conducting a research and helps them
develop a wide range of skills which are needed for conducting
research. Fieldwork helps in developing skills such as
observational skills, data collection, data analysis, map work,
investigative skills etc. It also helps in the understanding and
applying of technical geographical tools such as GIS
and GPS etc. Moreover it has been seen that doing fieldwork also
helps in developing communication and numerical skills. Thus,
fieldwork helps students and research scholars become better all
round learners.
3. AESTHETICS:
Fieldwork provides the opportunity to develop sensitivity and
appreciation towards a wide range of environments. It instills a
sense of ‘awe’ and ‘wonder’ in individuals which allow them to
feel that they are an integral part of the environment. This
facilitates a sense of gratitude and respect for the environment
and also leads to effective and interactive learning. Fieldwork
also becomes a means for geographers to visit environments that
otherwise they might not visit and this leads to more social
inclusion.
4. VALUES:
Fieldwork also promotes appreciation of human values. It allows
students to develop an understanding of people’s perspectives on
various issues like social, political, ecological, cultural etc. It also
enables students to form and clarify their own values and at the
same time respect other people’s opinions and values. Fieldwork
allows students to learn about the wider ecological and socio-
cultural changes as a result of changes in the environment and
thus helps in better understanding of the problems associated
with environmental degradation and the need for sustainable
development.
5. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Fieldwork can also contribute to the social and personal
development of an individual. Interaction in the real world can
help an individual gain confidence and develop soft skills like
leadership, communication skills, teamwork etc. It also teaches
values such as discipline, perseverance, patience etc. Working in
a field can help break down barriers between student and peers,
teachers and staff. Thus, fieldwork can lead to an overall
betterment of an individual.
VALUE OF FIELDWORK IN GEOGRAPHY

Fieldwork has been an integral and definitive part of Geography
in the past and it continues to be so in the present day. The value
of fieldwork lies in the fact that it can connect theories with the
real world. When an individual visits different landscapes,
experiences unfamiliar cultures, extreme weathers or even the
journey to the venue itself, it allows him/her to have a firmer
grasp on the theoretical knowledge being taught in the
classroom. It also allows the person to experience and visualize
global phenomena in the local environment.
Fieldwork is highly valued due to its ability to fulfill an extensive

range of roles in the development of geography’s curriculum.
Fieldwork can inter link and combine different educational
objectives and make it an effective means of learning. For
example, while doing a field research, different aspects of
Geography can come into play like – knowledge about the
geomorphological and socio-cultural conditions of the place,
usage of cartographic techniques for mapping, data analysis
using various statistical techniques etc.
Fieldwork is also valued as it raises the profile and identity of

Geography as a premier discipline among others. Moreover,
many of the techniques critical for a geographer can only be
understood and applied in a field setting. For example-
conducting a survey through direct interview or questionnaires,
describing the soil profile of a place, surveying the causes of
natural or man made disasters of an area etc are skills which
cannot be learned only through classroom teaching.
Fieldwork also plays an integral role in group bonding between

students and between students and their teachers. It leads to
breaking down of any barriers between the students and instills
in them a sense of social inclusion and belonging. This process of
bonding enhances cohesion within the student group and have
benefits for geography and geographers.
Geography as a discipline lays the utmost importance to the

spatial aspects of phenomena be it environmental, socio-
economic, cultural etc. Hence, fieldwork at the location has an
intrinsic value for the Geographer as they specialise in spatial
analysis and understanding. Further, direct observation or survey
in the field can lead to collection of local level information that is
not available through secondary sources and also verification of
already published information.
Fieldwork provides students the opportunity to be more sensitive

and appreciative towards the environment. When they visit
various landscapes it instills a sense of gratitude and respect for
the environment. As a result, fieldwork enables students to work
towards a more sustainable world. Through their own personal
experiences in the field, they learn to be active and responsible
citizens and strive for sustainable development- where people’s
needs and quality of life is improved without destroying the
environment.
In the digital age, advancement in technology has not rendered

fieldwork obsolete, rather it has enriched fieldwork as it has
made the process of field surveying faster, easier and more
efficient. On the other hand, Fieldwork can lead to exploring and
exhibiting new possibilities for these technologies. Thus,
successful fieldwork can bring together ‘a blend of traditional
skills and concepts with the purposeful application of new
technology.’
Moreover, Fieldwork enhances ‘marketable skill sets’ and

encourages engagement with new technologies in students, thus
making them prospects for employment.
Thus, the father of cultural Geography, Carl o’ Sauer’s statement

– “the principal training of the geographer should come,
wherever possible, by doing field work” is a reflection of the
importance of fieldwork within the discipline of Geography.
ETHICS OF FIELDWORK :
The word ethics is derived from the Greek word “ETHIKOS”

meaning character. Geographical research involves collecting
data from the people, about the people, the places and the
phenomena. Hence, it becomes necessary that the researcher
conducts the fieldwork in such a way so as to not raise any
ethical issues and to make sure that proper ethical guidelines are
being followed.
Mentioned below are some of the most important ethical issues

that come up while doing fieldwork and how to address such
issues:-
1. BASIC TOPIC OF STUDY: When we choose a topic of research,

the very opening move contains ethical concerns. These ethical
concerns are directed primarily towards the audience for
whom the study will be of interest. When selecting the topic of
study one must ask themselves whether they believe they can
accurately address the research question otherwise it could
negatively affect the community of study.
2. SELF FULFILLING STUDY: When conducting a fieldwork, the
researcher must make sure that it is unbiased and doesn’t
have vested interest of the researcher. The researcher should
not conduct the research in such a way that they are bound to
find only that which they are looking for and expecting.
3. SAMPLING AND PARTICIPANT SELECTION: When selecting the
participants for study, one must make sure that the samples
are selected in a proper systematic manner and not on the
basis of personal biasness.
4. RELEASE OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION: During fieldwork,
sensitive private information might be disclosed, which might
potentially lead to embarrassment or harm to the community
members. The researcher should protect the privacy of the
participants in such cases.
5. PREDICTION OF POSSIBLE HARMS: Although Geographical
research might not bring physical harm to the respondents,
but our research might sometimes cause harm to the
reputation of our respondents or it might cause a disruption in
the community or it might interfere with ongoing plans. One
should be wary of such issues beforehand.
6. OBLIGATION TO INFORMANTS: When we are doing fieldwork
we are not only asking the respondents to spend their time
working with us but also asking for them to trust us.
Identifying exactly what are obligations are to the respondents
is therefore crucial to ensure we act ethically.
7. DEGREE OF ANONOMITY OR CONFIDENTIALITY:
Confidentiality means that the respondent doesn’t want their
identity to be revealed and the researcher agrees to keep their
identity unrevealed. Anonymity means that the researcher
doesn’t know who the respondent is. In such cases one must
make sure that the wish of the respondent to not reveal their
identity is respected.
8. OBTAIN NECESSARY PERMISSIONS: Before carrying out the
fieldwork, the researcher must obtain the approval of
individuals or authorities to gain access to the site and to
survey the respondents.
9. MOTIVATIONS FOR DOING THE WORK: Before doing the
Fieldwork, one must identify the motive for doing the work.
Wil the work benefit the participants? Will it advance our
knowledge on the subject? Is it done to satisfy our curiosity on
the subject? Or is the research undertaken as it is easiest to
fulfill a class assignment, or is it being undertaken just to see
what people do because its fun etc.
10. LEADING QUESTIONS: When conducting a research one
must make sure that the questions do not accidently or
purposefully lead people to answer a certain way. One must
make sure that the questions are framed in an unbiased
manner.
11. ESTABLISHING RAPPORT: It is crucial for the researcher
to establish rapport with the respondents. Without it, he/she
will rarely be able to gather useful and accurate data.
12. LEARNING LOCAL NORMS OF CONDUCT: When
conducting fieldwork, the researcher is a guest among the
community being surveyed. Hence, during the course of the
fieldwork, one must respect the values and traditions of the
community and not violate their local customs.
13. NO PLAGIARISM: While doing a research, one must make
sure that credit is given for the work of others while publishing
their work. One should not present the work of other’s as ones
own as it is an ethical violation.

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FIELDWORK AND

TOPIC: FIELDWORK – AN INTEGRAL

VALUE OF FIELDWORK IN GEOGRAPHY

Fieldwork is highly valued due to its ability to fulfill an extensive

Fieldwork is also valued as it raises the profile and identity of

Fieldwork also plays an integral role in group bonding between

Geography as a discipline lays the utmost importance to the

Fieldwork provides students the opportunity to be more sensitive

In the digital age, advancement in technology has not rendered

Moreover, Fieldwork enhances ‘marketable skill sets’ and

Thus, the father of cultural Geography, Carl o’ Sauer’s statement

The word ethics is derived from the Greek word “ETHIKOS”

Mentioned below are some of the most important ethical issues

1. BASIC TOPIC OF STUDY: When we choose a topic of research,

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