Overseas Research When conducting research in developing countries, an ability to negotiate a bewildering array of cultural and logistical obstacles is essential Overseas Research: A Practical Guide distills essential lessons from scores of students and scholars who have collected data and done fieldwork abroad, including how to prepare for the field, how and where to find funding for one’s fieldwork, issues of personal safety and security, and myriad logistical and relational issues By encouraging researchers to think through the challenges of research before they begin it, Overseas Research will help prepare fieldworkers for the practical, logistical, and psychological considerations of very demanding work, help save valuable time, make the most of scarce financial resources, and enhance the qual ity of the field research This third edition contains new material on social media, including representation of research subjects/collaborators, students’ digital brand ing and image, and representing universities abroad when posting publicly It also covers emerging technologies such as solar panels for power in remote locations, new ways of digitally sending and receiving money, and incorporates more per spectives of women, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color researching abroad The book will be of interest to overseas fieldworkers, and also to undergradu ates in subjects such as anthropology, economics, geography, history, international studies, politics, sociology, and development studies Christopher B Barrett is the Stephen B and Janice G Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, International Professor of Agriculture, Professor of Economics, and Professor of Global Development at Cornell University, USA Jeffrey Cason is Provost and the Edward C Knox Professor of International Studies and Political Science at Middlebury College, USA Erin C Lentz is Assistant Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, USA Overseas Research A Practical Guide Third Edition Christopher B Barrett, Jeffrey Cason, and Erin C Lentz Third edition published 2020 by Routledge Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN and by Routledge 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2020 Christopher B Barrett, Jeffrey Cason, and Erin C Lentz The right of Christopher B Barrett, Jeffrey Cason, and Erin C Lentz to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 All rights reserved No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe First edition published by Johns Hopkins University Press 1997 Second edition published by Routledge 2010 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Barrett, Christopher B (Christopher Brendan), author | Cason, Jeffrey W., author | Lentz, Erin C., author Title: Overseas research: a practical guide/Christopher B Barrett, Jeffrey Cason and Erin C Lentz Description: Third edition | Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2020 | Includes bibliographical references and index | Identifiers: LCCN 2019051085 (print) | LCCN 2019051086 (ebook) | Subjects: LCSH: Social sciences–Fieldwork Classification: LCC H62 B338 2020 (print) | LCC H62 (ebook) | DDC 300.72/3–dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019051085 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019051086 ISBN: 978-0-367-25663-0 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-367-25702-6 (pbk) ISBN: 978-0-367-25709-5 (ebk) Typeset in Bembo by Swales & Willis, Exeter, Devon, UK We dedicate the third edition of this book to Clara, Gail, and Jason Contents List of field narratives List of contributors Preface and acknowledgments to the third edition x xii xv Introduction Identifying a site and funding source Site selection Exploratory research trips 13 Language training 19 Finding funding 21 Summary 28 Predeparture preparations Money and travel 29 Health 34 Housing 39 Packing: what to bring, what to leave 41 Family matters 47 Being LGBTQ+ in the field 49 Academic preparations 53 Securing approvals and research clearances 59 29 Setting up to live and work Becoming familiar with an unfamiliar environment 65 Money and housing 66 Bureaucratic and legal matters 70 With family in the field 72 Issues of identity in your daily experiences 74 65 viii Contents Relations with expatriates 77 Maintaining your well-being in the field 80 Settling in academically 84 The logistics of fieldwork Research equipment 88 Transportation 95 Research assistants 100 88 Safety and security matters Personal safety: the basics 111 Less obvious safety strategies 117 Gender, race, and sexual orientation-based violence 121 Traffic 122 Keeping research equipment and data safe 123 111 The challenges of the field Choosing and cultivating informants 126 Crosschecking data 133 Broaching sensitive subjects 134 Recording interviews 138 Managing and minimizing your cultural and ecological footprint 139 Giving back and maintaining credibility in the field 142 126 Knowing when to go home Narrowing the topic 147 Clearing the decks 149 Packing up the data 153 147 Pulling it all together: the postpartum Organizing data 157 Beginning (and completing) the writing process 158 Culture shock 160 157 10 Epilogue: it’s never over Post-fieldwork obligations 162 Post-fieldwork opportunities 166 162 Contents ix Selected bibliography Archival research 168 Case study research and comparative method 168 Ethnographic methods and qualitative research on human subjects 169 Fieldwork in general 170 Grantswriting 171 Living abroad 171 Quantitative methods 172 Research ethics 172 Study abroad 173 Survey research 173 Websites (blogs, and other repositories of useful information) 173 168 Index 175 Selected bibliography In this selected bibliography we provide a broad compendium, not a comprehensive listing, of relevant materials on social science fieldwork in developing countries Many of the refer ences were originally taken from the “recommended readings” bibliography prepared for the Social Science Research Council’s International Predissertation Fellowship Program, which ran for roughly a decade from the early 1990s Other references were provided by the coau thors, contributors, reviewers, and others who reviewed the manuscript The bibliography is arranged by topic, including: archival research; ethnographic methods and qualitative research on human subjects; field research in general; grantswriting; living abroad; quantitative methods; research ethics; study abroad; survey research; and useful websites Archival research Elder, G H et al 1993 Working with Archival Data: Studying Lives Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications Hill, M R 1993 Archival Strategies and Techniques Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications Scott, J 1990 A Matter of Record: Documentary Sources in Social Research Cambridge, MA: Basil Blackwell Weeks, J M 1991 Introduction to Library Research in Anthropology Boulder, CO: Westview Press Westerman, R C 1994 Fieldwork in the Library: A Guide to Research in Anthropology and Related Area Studies Chicago, IL: American Library Association Case study research and comparative method Achen, C and D Snidal 1989 “Rational Deterrence Theory and Comparative Case Studies.” World Politics 41: 143–169 Bradley, H E and D Collier eds 2010 Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield Burawoy, M 1998 “The Extended Case Method.” Sociological Theory 16(1): 4–33 Dogan, M and D Pelassy 1990 (1984) How to Compare Nations: Strategies in Comparative Politics Chatham, NJ: Chatham House Publishers Geddes, B 1990 “How the Cases You Choose Affect the Answers You Get: Selection Bias in Comparative Politics.” Political Analysis 2: 131–149 George, A and A Bennett 2004 Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences Cambridge, MA: MIT Press Selected bibliography 169 King, G., R O Keohane and S Verba 1994 Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press Lieberson, S 1991 “Small N’s and Big Conclusions: An Examination of the Reasoning in Comparative Studies Based on a Small N of Cases.” Social Forces 70: 307–320 Lijphart, A 1975 “The Comparable-Cases Strategy in Comparative Research.” Comparative Political Studies 8: 158–177 Ragin, C and H Becker 1990 What Is a Case? Exploring the Foundations of Social Inquiry Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Seawright, J and J Gerring 2008 “Case Selection Techniques in Case Study Research: A Menu of Qualitative and Quantitative Options.” Political Research Quarterly 61(2): 294–308 Tilly, C 1984 Big Structures, Large Processes, Huge Comparisons New York: Russell Sage Foundation Yin, R 2017 Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 3rd ed (Applied Social Research Methods Series: 5) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Ethnographic methods and qualitative research on human subjects Barley, N 1983 The Innocent Anthropologist London: British Museum Publications Bell, D., P Caplan and W J Karim eds 1993 Gendered Fields: Women, Men, and Ethnography London and New York: Routledge Bourneman, J and A Hammoudi eds 2009 Being There: The Fieldwork Encounter and the Making of Truth Berkeley, CA: University of California Press Clifford, J and G E Marcus eds 2010 (1986) Writing Culture: The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography Berkeley, CA: University of California Press Desmond, M 2016 Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City New York: Crown Publishers Devereux, S 1993 “‘Observers Are Worried’: Learning the Language and Counting the People in Northeast Ghana.” In S Devereux and J Hoddinott, eds., Fieldwork in Develop ing Countries, pp 45–57 Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Dexter, L 2008 (1970) Elite and Specialized Interviewing Colchester, UK: ECPR Press Duneier, M 1999 Sidewalk New York: Farrar Strauss and Giroux Emerson, R M., R I Fretz and L L Shaw 2011 (1995) Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press Faubion, J D and G E Marcus eds 2009 Fieldwork Is Not What It Used to Be: Learning Anthropology’s Method in a Time of Transition Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press Fox, R G ed 1992 Recapturing Anthropology: Working in the Present Santa Fe, NM: School of American Research Press (distributed by University of Washington Press) Fujii, L A 2017 Interviewing in Social Science Research: A Relational Approach London: Routledge Geertz, C 1989 Works and Lives: The Anthropologist as Author Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press Gladwin, C H 1989 Ethnographic Decision Tree Modeling Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications Gupta, A and J Ferguson eds 1997 Culture, Power, and Place: Explorations in Critical Anthro pology Durham, NC: Duke University Press Hammersley, M and P Atkinson 2017 Ethnography: Principles in Practice, 4th ed London and New York: Routledge Ingold, T 2018 Anthropology: Why It Matters Medford, MA: Polity 170 Selected bibliography Jackson, B 1987 Fieldwork Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press Lofland, J and L H Lofland 2005 Analyzing Social Settings: A Guide to Qualitative Observation and Analysis, Third Edition Florence, KY: Wadsworth Publishing Marcus, G 1994 “Ethnography in/of the World System: The Emergence of Multi-Sited Ethnography.” Annual Reviews 24: 95–117 Middleton, T and J Cons 2014 “Coming to Terms: Reinserting Research Assistants into Ethnography’s Past and Present.” Ethnography 15(3): 279–290 Moran, E F 1995 The Comparative Analysis of Human Societies: Toward Common Standards for Data Collection and Reporting Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Moris, J and J Copestake.1993 Qualitative Enquiry for Rural Development: A Review London: Intermediate Technology Publications, Overseas Development Institute Mosley, L ed 2013 Interview Research in Political Science Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press Musante, K and B R DeWalt 2010 Participant Observation: A Guide for Fieldworkers Lanham, MD: Rowman Altamira Narayan, K 2012 Alive in Writing: Crafting Ethnography in the Company of Chekhov Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press Nordstrom, C and A C G M Robben 1995 Fieldwork under Fire: Contemporary Studies of Violence and Survival Berkeley, CA: University of California Press Rosaldo, M and L Lamphere 1974 Woman, Culture, and Society Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press Rosaldo, R 1993 Culture and Truth: The Remaking of Social Analysis Boston, MA: Beacon Press Sanjek, R 1990 Fieldnotes: The Makings of Anthropology Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press Spradley, J P 2016 (1979) The Ethnographic Interview New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Spradley, J P 2016 (1980) Participant Observation New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Tuhiwai Smith, L 2012 Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous People London: Zed Books Van Maanen, J 2011 (1988) Tales of the Field: On Writing Ethnography Chicago, IL: Univer sity of Chicago Press Weiss, R 1995 Learning from Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies New York: Free Press Wolf, M 1992 A Thrice Told Tale: Feminism, Postmodernism and Ethnographic Responsibility Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press Fieldwork in general Aldrich, D P 2009 “The 800-pound Gaijin in the Room: Strategies and Tactics for Con ducting Fieldwork in Japan and Abroad.” PS; Political Science and Politics 42: 299–304, doi: 10.1017/S104909650909060X Barley, N 2011 (1983) The Innocent Anthropologist: Notes from a Mud Hut London: Eland Corbridge, S and E Mawdsley 2003 Special Issue: Fieldwork in the ‘tropics’: Power, know ledge, and practice Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 24(2) Devereux, S and J Hoddinott eds 1993 Fieldwork in Developing Countries Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Hertel, S and M M Singer 2009 “Field Research in Developing Countries: Hitting the Road Running.” PS; Political Science and Politics 42: 305–309, doi: 10.1017/S1049096509090611 Kristof, N 2009 “Cum Laude in Evading Bandits.” May 31 New York Times Selected bibliography 171 Lasker, J N 2016 Hoping to Help: The Promises and Pitfalls of Global Health Volunteering Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press Mikkelsen, B 2005 Methods for Development Work and Research: A New Guide for Practitioners Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Ortbals, C D and M E Rincker eds 2009 “Fieldwork, Identities, and Intersectionality: Negotiating Gender, Race, Class, Religion, Nationality, and Age in the Research Field Abroad.” Special Issue of PS; Political Science and Politics, doi: 10.1017/ S104909650909057X Penslar, R L 1994 Research Ethics: Cases and Materials Bloomington, IN: Indiana Univer sity Press Perecman, E and S Curran eds 2006 A Handbook for Social Science Research: Essays and Bib liographic Sources on Research Design and Methods Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Rabinow, P 2007 (1977) Reflections on Fieldwork in Morocco Berkeley, CA: University of California Press Razavi, S 1993 “Fieldwork in a Familiar Setting: The Role of Politics at the National, Community and Household Levels.” In S Devereux and J Hoddinott, eds., Fieldwork in Developing Countries, pp 133–152 Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Reinhardt, G Y 2009 “I Don’t Know Monica Lewinsky, and I’m Not in the CIA Now How about that Interview?” PS: Political Science and Politics 42(2): 295–298 Scheyvens, R and D Storey eds 2014 (2003) Development Fieldwork: A Practical Guide Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Smith, C D and W Kornblum eds 1996 (1989) In the Field: Readings on the Field Research Experience New York: Praeger Wilson, K 1993 “Thinking about the Ethics of Fieldwork.” In S Devereux and J Hoddinott, eds., Fieldwork in Developing Countries, pp 179–199 Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Grantswriting Bauer, D G 2015 (1995) The “How To” Grants Manual New York: Rowan and Littlefield Press Browning, B A 2008 Grant Writing for Dummies, Third Edition New York: John Wiley & Sons Pzreworski, A and F Salomon 1998 The Art of Writing Proposals Social Science Research Council www.ssrc.org/publications/view/7A9CB4F4-815F-DE11-BD80 001CC477EC70/ Yang, O O 2005 Guide to Effective Grant Writing: How to Write an Effective NIH Grant Application New York: Springer Living abroad Anderson, B 2016 A Life Beyond Boundaries: A Memoir New York: Verso Books Cassell, J 1987 Children in the Field: Anthropological Experiences Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press Gordon, R 2010 Going Abroad: Traveling like an Anthropologist Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers Kohls, L R 2001 Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans Planning to Live and Work Abroad, 4th ed Boston, MA: Nicholas Brealey Publising Mzezewa, T and L Moore 2019 “‘Don’t Succumb to the Fear’: Women Share Travel Safety Tips.” March 26 New York Times www.nytimes.com/2019/03/26/travel/safety tips-female-solo-travel.html 172 Selected bibliography Specia, M and T Mzezewa 2019 “Adventurous Alone Attacked.” March 25 New York Times Rose, S R and J S Keystone 2005 International Travel Health Guide, 13th Edition St Louis, MO: Mosby Schroeder, D G 2000 Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, 5th ed Emeryville, CA: Avalon Travel Publishing Werner, D., with C Thurman and J Maxwell 2017 Where There Is No Doctor, revised edi tion Berkeley, CA: Hesperian Health Guides Quantitative methods Agresti, A and B Finlay 2018 Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences, 5th Edition Riverside, NJ: Pearson Angrist, J D and J S Pischke 2008 Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist’s Companion Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press Maio, D and N Fiala 2019 “Be Wary of Those Who Ask: A Randomized Experiment on the Size and Determinants of the Enumerator Effect.” World Bank Economic Review doi: 10.1093/wber/lhy024 Duflo, E., R Glennerster and M Kremer 2007 “Using Randomization in Development Economics Research: A Toolkit.” In T P Schultz and J A Strauss, eds., Handbook of Development Economics volume 4, pp 3895–3962 Amsterdam: Elsevier North-Holland Frankfort-Nachmias, C., D Nachmias and J DeWaard 2014 Research Methods in the Social Sciences, 8th ed New York: Worth Publishers Gelman, A and J Hill 2006 Data Analysis Using Regression and Multilevel/Hierarchical Models Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Glennerster, R and K Takavarasha 2013 Running Randomized Evaluations: A Practical Guide Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press Greene, W H 2011 Econometric Analysis, 7th ed New York: Pearson Neuman, W L 1994 Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon Wooldridge, J M 2010 Econometric Analysis of Cross-Section and Panel Data, 2nd ed Cam bridge, MA: MIT Press Research ethics DeVries, R., D A DeBruin and G Goodgame 2004 “Ethics Review of Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research: Where Should We Go from Here?” Ethics and Behavior 14(4): 351–368 Johnstone, L ed 2019 The Politics of Conducting Research in Africa New York: Palgrave MacMillan Pace, C A and E J Emanuel 2005 “The Ethics of Research in Developing Countries: Assessing Voluntariness.” The Lancet 365(9453): 11–12 Panel on Institutional Review Boards, Surveys and Social Science Research, National Research Council of National Academies 2003 Protecting Participants and Facilitating Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Washington, DC: National Academies Press Penslar, R L 1995 Research Ethics: Cases and Materials Bloomington, IN: Indiana Univer sity Press Scheyvens, R and H Leslie 2000 “Gender, Ethics and Empowerment: Dilemmas of Development Fieldwork.” Women’s Studies International Forum 23(1): 119–130 Selected bibliography 173 Study abroad The Forum on Education Abroad 2015 Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, 5th ed Carlisle, PA: The Forum on Education Abroad https://forumea.org/wp-content/ uploads/2014/08/Standards-2015.pdf The Forum on Education Abroad 2019 Guidelines for Undergraduate Research, Field Studies, and Independent Study Projects Abroad Carlisle, PA: The Forum on Education Abroad https://forumea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Guidelines-for-Undergraduate Research-Abroad.pdf Lantis, J and J DuPlaga 2010 The Global Classroom: An Essential Guild to Study Abroad Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers Survey research Bradburn, N M., S Sudman and B Wansink 2004 Asking Questions: The Definitive Guide to Questionnaire Design, 2nd ed San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Casley, D J and D A Lury 1987 Data Collection in Developing Countries, 2nd ed Oxford: Oxford University Press Converse, J and S Presser 1986 Survey Questions: Handcrafting the Standardized Question naire Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications Freedman, D., et al 1988 “The Life History Calendar: A Technique for Collecting Retro spective Data.” Sociological Methodology 18: 37–68 Grosh, M and P Glewwe eds 2000 Designing Household Survey Questionnaires for Developing Countries: Lessons from 15 Years of the Living Standards Measurement Study volumes Wash ington, DC: World Bank Kalton, G 1986 Introduction to Survey Sampling Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications Kumar, K 1989 “Conducting Key Informant Interviews in Developing Countries.” USAID Program Design and Evaluation Methodology Report 13 Washington, DC: USAID Longhurst, R 1981 “Research Methodology and Rural Economy in Northern Nigeria.” In Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex, eds., IDS Bulletin, vol 12, pp 23–31 Sussex: Institute of Development Studies Marsden, P V and J D Wright eds 2010 Handbook of Survey Research Orlando, FL: Emerald Publishing Poate, C D and P F Daplyn 1993 Data For Agrarian Development Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Rea, L M and R A Parker 2005 Designing and Conducting Survey Research: A Comprehensive Guide, 3rd ed San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Websites (blogs, and other repositories of useful information) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel Great and regularly updated site for checking on disease outbreaks, vaccination recommendations, etc Chris Blattman: https://chrisblattman.com Leading political scientist/economist who rou tinely updates his site with new bits of advice to people doing field research RAINN: www.rainn.org/national-resources-sexual-assault-survivors-and-their-loved-ones “National resources for sexual assault survivors and their loved ones.” Includes general information, resources for survivors of domestic violence and intimate violence, links to medical, mental, and legal services, as well as specialized resources for LGBTQ+ survivors, for children, for male survivors, for college students, and for disabled survivors 174 Selected bibliography Ushahidi: www.ushahidi.com Ushahidi’s web site provides real time crowd sourced infor mation about civil unrest, natural disasters and other crises United States Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime: www.ovc.gov/help/inter national.html “Help for Crime Victims: Resources for International Victims.” Includes links for US and foreign nationals who experience nonemergency crime abroad, as well as links for international resources United States Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international travel/emergencies/crime.html “Help for US Citizens Victims of Crime.” Includes links or telephone numbers for US embassies and consulates, and the US Department of State’s Office of Citizen Services Also included are links to resources for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, family and friends of murder victims, victims and families of drunk driving crashes, and general victim assistance United States Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international travel.html US government travel advisories, useful checklists on things to pay attention to, country information, and enrollment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service to help with embassy contact in the event of an emergency United States Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international travel.html “International Travelers.” Page includes tips on traveling safely, and how to be ready for a crisis abroad It includes specialized links with tips for women travelers, LGBTQ+ travelers, disabled travelers, and for travelers to different parts of the world Index academic preparations 53–59; see also research clearance accidents 37, 99–100, 122 acclimatization 65–66 accommodations 39–41, 67–70, 114 accountants 25–26 action research 27 adapters, electrical 43 advisers 147, 148, 155 affiliations 13, 14–16, 56, 62–63, 86 Africa 35, 37, 135 African enumerators 135 Africanists 53–54 age, identity and 76–77 agency fees 68 agriculture, women in 74–75 AIDS 37, 61 air bags 99, 122 air fares 32 air freight 154 air tickets 32–33, 141 airlines, offsets 141 airports: baggage 155; security 93, 123, 155 Aldrich, Daniel 42 allergies 7, 82 alternative funding 26–27 ambulance provision 100 American Automobile Association (AAA) 43 Americans: ecological footprint 141–142; expatriates 78–79; security risk 113; stereotyped 115 anonymity 139, 163–164 anthropology 9, 70, 127 anthropometric data 44 antibiotics 38 antivirus software 93, 123 archives 7, 9, 14, 85, 86, 137 Association of International Educators 49 ATMs 29–30, 67, 113 Australians 115 backpacks 112, 114, 117 backup: ATM card 67, 129–130; data 45, 89, 92, 153–154, 156 baggage 43, 154–156 bandits 117–118, 118–119 Bangladesh 15, 79–80, 137 banking 29–30, 31, 67, 113 Barley, Nigel Barnwell, Carolyn 116–117 baseline data batteries 40, 43, 89, 92, 94, 105 Bauer, Gretchen 65–66, 78–79, 165–166 Behrman, Carolyn 144–146 Berber language 88 bias 74–75 bibliographies 160 bicycles 96 birth certificates 42 birth control 42 blackouts 43 blogging 27 bonuses 104, 106, 152 book reviews 159 bookkeeping 25–26 books 45 Booth, Karen 61–62 borrowing: funding 25, 28, 160; printer/ scanner 91; record equipment 44 Boucher, Steve 131–132, 133 Brazil 85, 167 breaks 80–81, 104, 161 bribes 72, 155 budgeting 21, 24–27, 36, 55; research assistants 101; school costs 73; tablets/ laptops 90; vehicle costs 96 176 Index bureaucracy 33–34, 70–72 buses 95–96, 97, 115–116 bush taxis 96 business cards 16, 41 businesses 128–129; institutional affiliation 62–63 cameras 89, 91, 92, 123 Cameroon capital flight 152 capitals card replacement 31 carjackings 122 cartridges 91 case studies 134, 149 cash 31, 67, 113 Central America 18, 98, 132, 136 challenges 88, 126–146, 167; families in field 72–74; researchers with disabilities 95–96 changing topics 17 chapter outlines 148, 158 checks 21, 30 children: begging 140; female researchers and 77; health concerns 12, 39; help in field 49; at home 48; housing options 69; possessions 43–44; schooling 47, 72, 73–74; transport 98 Chile 91 China 60–61 choosing informants 126–133 Christmas 7, 65–66 church guest houses 40 Cirrus logo 29 CISI 36 Clark, Mary 160 class 46, 52, 53, 74–76 clearing decks 149–153 closure 149, 151–152 clothing 46–47, 114, 121 co-financing 25 coauthorship 165 collaboration 10, 86, 165 collaborators 10, 14–15, 27, 57–58, 108 colloquialisms 20, 66 Commissions of State Education 61 Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects 128 communications: affiliation help 56; data protection 124; internet calls 57; local infrastructure 16–17; technology and 58; unstable environments 118–119 comparative projects 167 competition, funding 14, 22, 26 comportment 84 computers: backup data 45, 153; coding software 54; copy documents 42; data entry 150; internet banking 31; laptops 89; peripherals 92; printers 91, 92; research assistants and 105; safety and security 123–125; tablets 90–91; warranties 93 condoms 42 conferences 159 confidentiality 127–128, 133, 139 connectivity 8, 89, 90 Cons, Jason 119–121, 136–137 consent letters 127–128; consent 63–64; photos/filming 130, 140 conservation agencies 26 consulates 33, 34, 122 consulting 26 contact lenses 42 contingencies 16, 25, 104, 154, 156 contracts: professional services 26; research assistants 102, 103–104, 105 corruption 155 Costa Rica 18, 56 couriers 77, 154 courtesy 84–85, 86, 151–152 courts 99 credibility 142–146, 165 credit cards 28, 30–31, 67, 112, 116 cross-checking data 133–134 cultivating informants 126–133 culture shock 157, 160–161 culture(s): children learning about 73–74; Costa Rican 18; dressing the part 46; food 82; Islamic 7–8; minimizing footprint 139–142; respect for other 46–47; straddling 79–80 currency 24–25, 31, 152 customer services 93 customs 33, 44, 92, 154–155 data organization 157–158 data packing 153–156 data security 89, 153, 158 data transport 153–154 databases 108, 150 deadlines 22, 71 debt 28, 30, 160 Democratic Republic of Congo 97 dengue fever 38 dependents 12–13, 48–49 development agencies 26 Index Devereux, Steven 17 dialects 88, 103 diarrhea 37–38 dictionaries 42 digitizers 150 Dillon, Andrew 118–119 diplomatic pouches 79, 154 diplomats 24, 70, 73, 98 disabilities 95–96 discrimination 75 disease 34, 37 dissertations 148, 159–160 doctors 35, 37–39 documentation: copies of 42, 112; driving 99; packing up 153–156; protection of 124; scanning 90, 91; USB stick 16 domestic help 72–73 donors 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28 drivers 42–43, 122–123; ambulances 100; rental cars 96, 98–99; taxis 97, 115 driver’s licences 42–43, 99 drugs 38–39, 117, 118 duplicates 155–156 duties 92–93 early stages 65–66 elections 8, 119–120 electricity 10, 40, 43, 89 elites 41, 127 email 14, 22, 53, 57, 82, 112, 153 embassies 33, 37, 40, 68, 78–79, 118–119, 120, 122, 145 emergencies 34, 35, 36, 37, 113, 116–117, 121–122 employment creation 73 enumerators 14, 55, 56, 75, 90, 101, 104, 105, 107, 108, 132, 133, 135, 150, 152 equipment 44, 88–95; returning home 152, 155; safety 123–125 Ethiopia 75 ethnography 7, 9, 19 etiquette 77 evacuation 12, 36–37, 121, 147 exchange rates 25, 31 exemption waivers 63 exercise 35, 81, 96 expatriates 77–79, 81, 98; housesitting for 27 expectations 11, 54, 56, 76 expenses 24, 25, 28, 30, 96, 98, 104 expert status 166 exploratory trips 13–19 177 eye contact 138 eyeglasses 42, 112 Facebook 40, 54, 57, 68, 107, 159 faculty 14, 55; IRB process 63 familiarization 65–66; see also exploratory trips family 12, 16, 30, 47–49; in field with 72–74; housing options 69–70 fasting 80 fatigue 7–8, 23, 35, 81 feedback 106, 142, 151–152, 164 fees: affiliation 15–16; ATMs 30–31 fellowships 25, 70–71 film 129–130 findings 158–159 first aid kits 35, 45, 99, 105 flashlights 43, 92, 94, 105, 117 flexibility 19, 26, 85, 109, 149, 167 flights 32–33 fluency 19–21 focus groups 134 food 34–35, 72–73, 79–80, 82 foreign aid missions 78 foreign exchange 30, 31, 92 formal surveys 7, 102–103, 106, 149, 163 fraud detection 31 freezer bags 94–95 fruits 34–35 FTP sites 45, 153 Fulbright 3, 22, 26, 79, 154 funding 6–28, 71; carbon offsets 141; previous research and 167 gender 48, 74–77; interpreters 102; research teams 107; sexual assault and 121–122; situational awareness 141 German language 59 gifts 42, 140 global positioning systems (GPS) 133, 163 going home 147–156 goodwill 143 Google 113, 153 graduate students, writing process 159, 165 grants 4, 10, 13–14, 22–26, 36, 55, 58, 59, 92 greetings 20, 84 GSM-capable phones 17 Guatemala 68 guest houses 40 guidebooks 29 gyms 81 178 Index Hammond, Laura 75, 77, 127–128 hard drives 16, 89, 123 hardware 88–94 headlamps 43, 117 health 34–39, 80–81, 82, 83, 100, 104, 121–122 Hertel, S 57, 164 HIV-AIDS 37, 61 holidays 7–8, 65–66 home institutions 8–9; academic experts at 22; business cards 41; gifts 42; storing data 154 homesickness 81 homophobia 49–50, 51, 52 hospitals 34, 36, 37, 38, 100, 121 host country sponsors 15 host institutions 23, 85, 128–129, 151 hotels 35, 40–41 housesitting 27 housing 39–41, 66–70, 74 HTH Worldwide 36 identity cards 37, 42, 70 illness 34–39, 100, 104 immersion 20, 78, 84 immune system 35 immunization 34 imports 92–93 incentives 101, 104, 106, 107, 132, 159 India 10–11, 52–53, 70–71, 83, 89–90, 121 indigenous people 136 inflation 24–25, 31 informal contact 127–128 infrastructure 10, 16–17 inoculations 34 insect repellent 37 insider research 10 Institutional Review Board (IRB) 15, 63, 128, 135, 139, 162–163 insurance 33, 36–37, 42, 104, 122, 123, 154; cars 99 integrity of data 133–134 intelligence gathering 118–119 intensive language programs 20 Inter-American Foundation International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers 34 International SOS 36, 121 International Student Identity Card (ISIC) 37, 42 internet 8, 16–17, 30, 56, 57, 58, 89, 158 interpreters 21, 102 interviews 138–139 introduction letters 15, 56 invitations, from host institutions 23 Iran 10 irons 42 Islam 7, James-Hernández, Francisca 11–12 jewelry 114 job market 105, 159 journaling 82, 83 Kenya 36, 61–62, 69, 143 keys 112–113 Kristof, Nicholas 117–118, 122, 125 landlords 68, 69, 70, 125 laptops see computers larceny 123 Latin America 74, 155 lawyers 30 lectures 151 legal matters 70–72 Lentz, Christian 84–85 letterheads 15, 56, 145 letters 14–15, 22, 23, 56, 83, 105 LGBTQ+ 49–53, 76 libraries 8, 45, 54, 57, 77, 86 literature review 8–9, 14, 23, 148 living conditions 16–17 loans 28, 30, 160 lodging 24, 40–41, 68–69; guides 44 logistics 2, 55, 77–78; fieldwork 88–110; going home 153–156 longitudinal studies 9, 132–133, 167 low-income countries 13, 91, 92, 124 luggage 33, 153–154 macroeconomic shocks 25 Madagascar 51–52, 132 Maertens, Annemie 115–116 mail 94; see also email malaria 12, 13, 37, 39, 105, 125 Malaysia 136 Mali 118–119 managers, interviewing 128–129 manual transmission 122–123 maps Maputo 131 marketability 6–7, 11 marriage certificates 42, 48 Maxwell, Dan 93, 151–152 mechanics 98 Index medication 38–39, 112 meetings 16; virtual 57–58 men, identity and 74–77 Michelson, Hope 128–129, 150 misinterpretation 134 mobility clauses 24 money 25, 29–31, 66–68, 113 money belts 112 monographs 159 monsoon seasons 95 moonlighting 28 Morarji, Karuna 70–71 Morocco 112 mosquitoes 35, 37, 38 motivation 159–160 motorcycles 96, 97 Mozambique 131–132, 133 multinational corporations 128–129 music 44 Muslims 48–49; see also Islam NAFSA 49 Nairobi 62, 98, 113 Namibia 65–66, 94, 165 Narayanan, Sudha 10–11 narrowing topics 147–149 nationality 10, 33, 75, 111 networks 48, 68–69, 118–119, 127 New Delhi 71 New Year 65–66 newspapers 16, 66, 127 NGOs 55, 98, 129 North Americans 74, 141 note-taking 138, 139 novels 44 obligations 162–166 observation 24, 63, 84, 132, 150 Office of Land Registry 131–132 office supplies 44, 94 officials 33, 34, 60, 70–72, 78–79, 92–93, 123, 131, 154, 155 opportunities 166–167; for family 72–74; social 77–78 Ortbals, C.D 76, 81 packing 41–46 Palau 117 papers, writing 105, 151, 159, 165, 166 Paprocki, Kasia 27, 79–80 parasites 37–38 participation rates 179 partners: language 20; married 12; research assistants 105, 106 passion, site selection 12 passports 33, 39, 42, 112 payment 30–31, 67, 113 Peace Corps 12, 54 pediatricians 39 pens: buying 94; smart 89, 138 pepper spray 43 peripherals 88–92 permission, recording interviews 138–139 permits, bringing back samples 155 personal safety 81, 111–121 personnel, research assistants 100–110 Peru 116, 117 PhDs 55, 106, 150–151 Philippines 38, 91 phone numbers 17, 41, 44, 133, 163 phones 16–17; SIM cards 89–90; smart 90 photocopies of documents 112 photos, of informants 139 physicians 35 pickpockets 117 PINs 113 piracy 15 plugs 94, 124–125 PLUS logo 29 police 70, 98, 99, 116 policy relevance 11 policymakers 128–129, 151–152 political scientists 91, 127, 131, 163 post-fieldwork obligations 162–166 post-fieldwork opportunities 166–167 Post-it notes 44, 94 postpartum 157–161 power relations, research assistants 108–109 powers of attorney 30, 70 precautions: data 153–154, 157–158; health 37–38; security 115–116; sexual assault 121–122 predeparture preparations 29–64 preparatory trips 13–19 prescriptions 35, 38–39, 112 printers 91, 123, 124 prior research professional services contracts 26 professionalism 84–85 proofs of purchase 92–93 proposals 21–28 prostitutes 61 protocol 32, 60, 84–85 publication 165 180 Index qualitative methods 7, 54, 134 quality control 108, 134 quantitative methods 7, 9, 134 race 74–77, 121–122 radio 16, 66 rainbowsig.org 49 rainy seasons 8, 97 Ramadan 7, 8, 49, 80 random samples 131–132 rapport, gifts and 42 Razavi, S 10 reading trap 158–159 real estate agents 68, 70 reassimilation 161 receipts 25–26, 30 reciprocity 70, 76, 142, 164 recommendations 23, 24 recording interviews 138–139 recruitment, research assistants 77–78, 100–110 reflection 27, 81, 148 refugees 127–128 Reinhardt, G.Y 85 remuneration, respondents 128 Reno, Will 17–18 rental agreements 68 repatriation insurance 37, 42 research assistants 100–110 research clearance 59–64; see also academic preparations restaurants 35, 82 review boards 15, 63, 128, 135, 139, 162–163 risk assessment 63, 111, 114 roaming capabilities, cell phone 89–90 running 81–82 rural areas 31, 46, 69, 91, 96 safety see security same-sex relationships 49, 50–51 sampling frames 7, 131–132 savings 25 scams 31 scanners 45, 91, 92, 123, 153 schooling 47, 72, 73 scooters 96 seaborne freight 154 search engines 21, 32 seasons 7–8, 97 seat belts 98, 99, 122 security 111–125; see also data security seed money 14 seminars 86, 151, 164 sensitive subjects 134–137 service representatives, equipment 93 settling in 84–87 sexual harassment 76–77 sexuality see LGBTQ+ Shively, Jerry 94–95, 141 short-term leases 68 Sierra Leone 18 SIM cards 17, 89–90 siSwati language 145 site selection 6–13 situational awareness 19, 114, 141 Skype 16, 57, 58 slang 66 smart pen 89 smugglers 123 social scientists 133, 149 software 54, 90, 92, 93, 108, 123, 124, 149–150 soil samples 44, 155 spare parts 94, 98–99 specimens 155 sponsors 15, 22 staplers 93, 94 State Department 24, 34, 59 stereotypes 72, 74, 115 sterilization, food and water 34–35 stick shift vehicles 122–123 storage: cloud-based 89, 124, 153; electronic 16 street food 35 study abroad programs 6, 14 subways 95 support groups, parents at home 48 surge suppressors 43, 124 surgery 37 surveillance 124 survey tests 59 swimming 82 syringes 35 tablet computers 90–91 Tamil Nadu 11 tariffs 92 tax, imports 92, 96 taxi services 96, 97, 115 teacherages 69 technical support, computer equipment 93 technology, communications 58 telecommunications, local 16–17 temporary accommodations 40, 67–68 Index terrorists 123 theses 159 thieves 112, 113, 114, 123 Tigrayans 75, 127 timing 6–7, 8, 13; transportation and 95 Title VI programs 14 toiletries 41–42 tourism websites 29 toys 43; as gifts 42 trade unions 165 traffic 122–123 trains 95, 97, 115–116 transcription 138 translation 21, 102, 138 transport 95–100, 115–116 travel agents 32, 154 triage 149 triangulation 133 Tripp, Aili 46, 106 trust: home finances 30; language and 19; research assistants 101, 103, 107; respondents 127–128, 130, 138 Uganda 61–62, 92, 107, 108, 109, 151–152 uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) 124, 125 USAID 28, 166 USB drives 16, 44, 45 vegetables 34–35 vehicles 95–100, 122–123; selling 152 Vietnam 85 violence 111, 121–122 VIPs 131 viruses 37; computer 93, 123 visas 24, 33–34, 39, 60, 70 voltages 43, 124 volunteers 12 VPN connections 124, 154 wallets 29–30, 112, 113, 117 warranties 93 watches 114 water 34–35, 37–38; boiler 43; hydration in India 83 Watson Foundation 23 Werner, David 35 West Africa 53–54, 84 Wilson, Ken 166 wireless hotspots 57 women: housing and 69; identity 74–75; research assistants 102–103; violence against 121–122 workshops 134, 151–152 World Bank 28, 166 World Health Organization 39, 61 write-up 28, 150–151, 153, 154, 158–160 Yemen 48–49 vacations 7, 80, 104 vaccinations 34, 39 valuables 112 181 Ziploc bags 94–95, 141 .. .Overseas Research When conducting research in developing countries, an ability to negotiate a bewildering array of cultural and logistical obstacles is essential Overseas Research: ... USA Erin C Lentz is Assistant Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, USA Overseas Research A Practical Guide Third Edition Christopher B Barrett, Jeffrey Cason, and Erin. .. (Christopher Brendan), author | Cason, Jeffrey W., author | Lentz, Erin C., author Title: Overseas research: a practical guide/Christopher B Barrett, Jeffrey Cason and Erin C Lentz Description: Third