Ethnographic Fieldwork Research Diary - Clubfoot Research in Malawi

by Sarah Drew

Sarah Drew shares her research diary about conducting ethnographic fieldwork in Malawi as part of a Clubfoot study.

16th March 2017 • comment

Experiences conducting ethnographic fieldwork in Malawi: challenges in navigating a new culture and participant perceptions

by Sarah Drew

During ethnographic fieldwork a researcher works alongside participants to try to understand experiences and knowledge within a particular context. Ethnographers often spend long periods of time conducting fieldwork in order to achieve an insiders’ perspective. However, achieving this takes time and is not necessarily straightforward. This article focuses on some of the challenges I encountered of working within a new context, including personal interaction and mutual understanding of roles. It is hoped that future researchers will be encouraged to consider the impact of their own positionality on findings. 

19th December 2016 • comment