Doing Field Projects

2 Getting Started

You cannot simply dive into fieldwork unprepared. Not only do you need certain basic equipment, which will vary from project to project, you also need to have a firm grasp from the beginning on how to carry out and execute a project from start to finish. We can take these procedures step by step.

Equipment

Smartphone

Your smartphone can replace many of the traditional tools of the fieldworker including notepad, camera, and voice recorder, and can be used as such from time to time. There are, however, several dangers in using your smartphone for all your fieldwork needs. First and foremost, there are multiple ways that your phone can fail, including damage, battery failure, and loss of signal. Thus, even if you are comfortable multitasking on your phone, you should always have a backup system for everything (notes, photos, voice recording) – always. In any event, it is much more functional if you can have separate, dedicated equipment for voice recording, photography, and note taking. Imagine trying to hold an interview concerning a skilled process, take photos, and keep notes all at the same time using a smartphone only.

One major problem with a smartphone is that it is a phone. You do not want to be in the middle of an interview only to have a text message or a phone call come through. You can silence these options, of course, and you should during fieldwork even when you have other devices with you. On the whole, though, it is a much simpler option to ...