Towards a praxis of care in post-pandemic fieldwork: Comparing ethnographic encounters during Covid-19

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of ensuring the wellbeing of both researchers and participants throughout the research process. In this paper, we argue that in order to produce caring research, the wellbeing of researchers must not be neglected. Using our experiences as three doctoral researchers undertaking ethnographic fieldwork during the pandemic, we consider what it means to do research which has a ‘praxis of care’ at its core. By consciously embedding care into the research process, we argue that we can work towards research that prioritises multiple modes of care and compassion. To demonstrate this, we present and reflect on our three related, but individual experiences as ongoing case studies. Grounding our own research encounters within broader literature focused on self-care in early career research alongside feminist perspectives, we ask the following questions: In the pursuit of knowledge, what does taking a step back to care for ourselves look like? How can we plan fieldwork which operates without harm for both researcher and participant? Finally, we contemplate what fieldwork with an epistemological commitment to ‘care’ for both researchers and participants could look like and propose some practical recommendations for incorporating a praxis of care throughout the research process.