Fieldwork experience: challenges and managing risks as a female researcher

Abstract

This chapter reflects on the hands-on experience of the first author’s field work conducted for a Doctoral study on “Usage of Social Capital Among Migrant Workers for Their Livelihoods in Malaysia”. The study used a mixed-method approach to examine whether social capital can bring any change in the migrant workers’ livelihoods between two highest labour sending countries, Indonesia and Bangladesh. For data collection, we selected Klang Valley, Malaysia where structured questionnaire, interview guideline and interview protocol were used as data collection tools. This chapter highlights five key fieldwork-related challenges - gender stereotyping, language barrier, safety and security of the researchers, natural incertitude of migrant workers, and first rejection from the key informants. At the end, leveraging the power of networking, building relationships, developing acceptance, pursuing alternative avenues to address different challenges, being persevered and prepared, lastly, following passion and purpose of a researcher helped to minimize and manage those risks. Fieldworks are hardly predictable; however, this chapter concludes that obstacles can be minimized through meaningful participation in both identifying risks and strategizing to manage those risks. Sharing these practical experiences and challenges through this chapter will contribute to the idea of planning for risk management for future researchers (and especially female researchers) in a foreign country.