In contrast with nonindigenous workers, to what extent do unique ethical problems arise when indigenous field-workers participate in field studies? Three aspects of study design and operation are considered: data integrity issues, risk issues, and protection issues. Although many of the data quality issues that arise with the use of indigenous…

This article describes some of the problems in the areas of ethics, rapport and understanding which confront researchers when they assume the role of a friend in observing and interacting with children. (EB)

Examines the assumptions, methods, and findings of computer-mediated communication (CMC) research and suggests that negative relational effects are confined to narrow situational boundary conditions. Suggests that communicators develop individuating impressions of others through accumulated CMC messages. (MG)

Questions whether preparation was adequate for the field research of squatter community schools and personal ethics and bias in the study. Also examines issues related to which researchers and scholars will gain access to South Africa to provide support and assistance and undertake research now that apartheid has ended. (MMU)

A response to criticisms on preparedness for the field study of squatter community schools in South Africa is presented. Included in the discussion are the ethical stance, the equity of inclusion to conduct research in South Africa, and departure from the field. (MMU)

Although field studies in human geography have some advantages over restricted classroom and laboratory studies, special methodological and ethical concerns arise. For example, field studies are able to take into account the complexity of events in natural settings as opposed to the controlled setting of a laboratory, particularly when subjects…

Describes observation research conducted by the author in a state institution for the mentally retarded. Discusses the moral and ethical dilemmas that occurred when the author witnessed routine abuse to patients by the institution's attendants. (BSR)

Questions and issues surrounding ethnographic research in educational settings are discussed from the viewpoint of the research manager responsible for directing large-scale research projects. The parts of an ethnographic study include: (1) conceptualizing the research project and determining if ethnographic methods are called for; (2) recruiting…

Proposes pragmatic agenda for future developmental supervision research and a "moratorium" on new or improved developmental supervision models, self-reports, and on research limited to academic settings. Encourages researchers to explore pragmatic questions about actual conduct of effective counseling supervision. (Author/CM)

In the conduct of field studies, there are three different points at which data may be collected unobtrusively. The first is when there is a "search" for an area of study. The second point in which data may be gathered unobtrusively is when the researcher is attempting to further the analysis. The third point in which data are collected…

Noting the increasing interest in qualitative research in general and ethnographic research in particular, the authors of this report clarify the place of the latter within the former. The authors present six criteria for an ethnographic approach to education, illustrated with examples, and discuss ethnography's advantages and disadvantages. The…

Anthropological fieldwork is characterized as the most human methodology of the social sciences. Fieldwork brings the researcher into intimate relationships with the host people and facilitates perception of the unexpected activity of general social processes and understanding the initially perplexing conduct of the hosts. Fieldwork also has…

Examines problems of field research conducted by female researchers in policy settings. Proposes ways to manage role, entree and access, data gathering, reciprocity, and reporting. Raises issue of male-female dynamics in field research, and suggests appropriate roles for female researchers in policy settings. (Author/KH)

A plea is made for increased field studies in education. Some of the problems are outlined: time and working hours, conflicting research paradigms, interpersonal relations in institutional settings, and financial and moral support. Examples are drawn from studies in South Australia. Solutions to the problem of reciprocal…

Discusses research strategy and data collection methods in field studies of unapprehended illegal immigrants living in the United States and suggests ways to increase the reliability and validity of interview responses. Also provides a bibliography of recent field studies of undocumented immigrants. (Author/GC)