Doing Fieldwork in Challenging Environments

This course provides an interactive online learning environment, using state of the art pedagogical tools. It is designed for advanced students (Master’s and PhD), postdoctoral researchers, and professionals. The course is limited to a maximum of 16 participants, ensuring that the teaching team can address the unique needs of each individual.

Purpose of the course

This course focuses on planning, preparing and conducting field research in challenging environments. These include closed and authoritarian political settings, as well as conflict, post-conflict, and post-war contexts. With the emphasis on ethical and practical considerations, the course provides hands-on training across key aspects of fieldwork, including risk assessment and mitigation, the application of common field research methods, data management, and re-entry into the field.

The course particularly suited to participants specialising in peace and conflict studies, international relations, and the studies of forced migration and authoritarianism.

By the end of the course, you will:

• have a solid understanding of the opportunities and challenges of conducting fieldwork in politically closed and conflict-torn settings, including legal and ethical concerns and the possibility of return to the field.
• be able to apply a range of field research methods specifically tailored to challenging contexts, including ethnographic interviews, participant observation, expert and elite interviews, and focus groups.
• be able to develop a detailed risk assessment and mitigation plan, as well as data management and safety plan for their own field research, and prepare for review by an Institutional Review Board or university Ethics Committee.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Some familiarity with research design and qualitative research methods would be beneficial, but is by no means a requirement for participation and successful completion of the course. Participants who are preparing for field research but have little or no prior fieldwork experience will benefit most from this course. 

Learning commitment

You will engage in a variety of activities designed to deepen your understanding of the subject matter. While the cornerstone of your training experience will be daily live teaching sessions, the learning commitment will extend beyond these. This ensures that you engage deeply with the course material, participate actively, and complete assessments to solidify your learning.

If you have registered and paid for the course, you will be given access to our Learning Management System (LMS) approximately two weeks before the course start date. Here, you can view course materials such as pre-course readings. You will be expected to commit approximately 20 hours per week leading up the start date to familiarise yourself with the content and complete any pre-course tasks.

During the course week, participants are expected to commit approximately three hours preparing for each session, which includes readings and practical assignments.