Research and Fieldwork in Development

Research and Fieldwork in Development explores both traditional and cutting edge research methods, from interviews and ethnography to spatial data and digital methods. Each chapter provides the reader with an understanding of the theoretical basis of research methods, reflects upon their practice and outlines appropriate analysis techniques. The text also provides a cutting edge focus on the role of new media and technologies in conducting research. The final chapters return to a set of broader concerns in development research, providing a new and dynamic set of engagements with ethics and risk in fieldwork, integrating methods and engaging development research methods with knowledge exchange practices. Each chapter is supported by several case studies written by global experts within the field, documenting encounters and experiences and linking theory to practice. Each chapter is also complimented by an end of chapter summary, suggestions for further reading and websites, and questions for further reflection and practice. The text critically locates development research within the field of international development to give an accessible and comprehensive introduction to development research methods.

This book provides an invaluable overview to the practice of international development research and serves as an essential resource for undergraduate and postgraduate student embarking of development fieldwork. It is supported by online resources including extended bibliographies for each chapter, example risk and ethic forms, example policy briefing notes, research reports, links to websites and data sources.

Dr Daniel Hammett BA (Oxon), PhD (Edinburgh), Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, UK. Daniel has held posts at the University of Edinburgh, University of Witwatersrand and University of Sheffield. A political and development geographer, his research focuses upon citizenship and belonging in the global south and geopolitics in Africa. He has conducted fieldwork in a range of development contexts and has extensive experience of teaching social science and development research methods, including the delivery of fieldclass teaching in both rural and urban areas in the global south. His publication profile is extensive, encompassing research and teaching related articles and chapters.

Dr Chasca Twyman BSc (Newcastle), PhD (Sheffield), Senior Lecturer, Dept of Geography, University of Sheffield UK. Chasca has a track record of high profile research into human responses to global environmental change and climatic variability, and environmental management and policy, underpinned by extensive social, policy and environmental data collection experience. Research has also focused on strengthening dialogue between the global north and south through the sharing of knowledge and research strategies. Funding has been received from ESRC-NERC, DFID and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. Research findings have been disseminated widely in international peer reviewed journals as well as practitioner publications and through policy focused user workshops.

Dr Mark Graham BSc (Western Kentucky), PhD (Kentucky), Research Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford. Mark’s work centres on both Internet and Economic Geographies. One major research focus involves examining the geographies of the Internet (looking at the geographies of online content and the geographies of participation). A second broad focus deals with the multiplicity of attempts to implement development and reduce a 'digital divide' by altering economic positionalities and reconfiguring commodity chains in places on the global periphery. His work is published in both academic and popular outlets. He has written a series of articles for the Guardian, maintains a blog that received ? of a million hits last year, and has published a variety of academic articles and book chapters.