How I learned that I’m not a truck driver – field work challenges

Sisse Grønsig@teamarbejdsliv.dk

Australian Maritime College

July 29th 2014

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18.03.2013

TWO FIELDWORKS OF HELEN SAMPSON

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ADGANG TIL ACESS TO THE FIELD

From outsideGatekeeperPragmatismBeware of promises and keep your promisesWhich acess?Consultant?

From insideGet everyones’ point of viewThe temptation of brilliance and associationMaintain a middle positionThe advantage of error or making a fool of yourself

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PAS PÅ MED BEWARE OF RECOMMENDATIONS...…

‘You were only five, when I started sailing as a Master, so I dare say, that when it comes to a ship and the work and communication with the crew, I am much more experienced than you have. My relation to seafarers of Filipino decent, has been so close, that I have been invited to their homes. But the thing is that it is easier for a white person to accomodate to strangers than it is for a Filipino. It is a problem that neither you, nor me can fix, the Filipino seafarer must solve that himself. And they really need to learn that their collective mentality is no good on board a ship, especially not a ship of this size.’

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THE STAGES OF FIELD WORK

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ExcitementFear

CuriosityObservation…

Involvement Participatio

n FocusCreativity

WithdrawalRevisit

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DATA SHOWER…

‘Michael welcomes me. He tells me about the company and the routines at night. Michael has many tatoos and a very thick gold chain around his neck. He is about 30. But he is kind and welcoming. He teases me about my brand new safety shoes, but points out that its a good thing I’m wearing them.’

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MASTERING

‘I do not have the muscle power H has to push the heavy pallets on the cobblestones and up the ramps into the stores. But apart from that I know everything, H tighten the straps around the cages to secure then for the transport, but he uses the same technique as they did for the concrete elements in Hedehusene.’

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ROLES

Completely partipatingThe participant as observer The observer as participant Completely observerving Apprentice Authority person PsychologistWitnessWoman…(Kristiansen and Krogstrup 2003)

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PARTICIPATION GAINS

‘I think that it is difficult for him to get me and my methods and especially if this really can be a scientific approach. But Kay just told me of his deep respect for the way I try to do everyone’s job, also the ratings’. He said he thought it will make it easier for me to understand their point of view when I have walked a mile in their shoes. And the ratings are glad I ask their opinion too.

KnowledgeTacid knowledgeTrustEthics!Street credibility

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INTERVIEWS DURING FIELD WORK

Takes some courageConversational interviewsInterviews with broad representation

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KEY INFORMANTS

The oldThe newThe reflexive The outsiderThe angry

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‘ANNOYING INFORMANTS...

‘I’m with Leif today. He offered to take me. Because he has a lot on his mind, about all that is wrong, doesn’t work, steals time, drain their resourses and should be fixed.He tells me a lot about during that day.’

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BREAKDOWNS

When the traditions of the researcher and the group collideDifference and similarity as the analytical focal pointData stripsSchemes (Explanatoty models – theory)Coherence (when it makes sense)Michael Agar (1986) Speaking of ethnography

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THE DEGREE OF PARTICIPATION

‘I’m home at 9 pm. We agreed to start at 4 am tomorrow to deliver the frozen goods, but I cannot do it. I need more than 6 hours to recover and to sleep, after a hard and long day – 12 hours inside the freezer. I have decided to cancel.’

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A SUBJECT AND AN OBJECT – OR SAVED BY BOURDIEU AND COMFORTED BY EBBA WERGELAND.Dobbel consciousness and dobbel roleProfessionalism”Participant objectivation””For what needs to be objectivated is not the anthropologist performing the anthropological analysis of an unfamiliar world, but the social world that has made both the anthropologist and the consious or unconscious anthropology that he engages in his anthropological practice” ~ to state one’s professional position.(Bourdieu 2000)

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VALIDITY AND TRANSPERANCY

The study object and the studied field is what determines the methods applied (cross disciplinarity?)Objectivity is NOT an issueBut everyone are object to analysisExplanatory power Recognizion not agreementReturning to the fieldTheorizing one’s practice and skill...Being a skilled idiot

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THE TRIALS OF HELEN SAMPSON‘In retrospect, we realized that from the outset we neglected our needs as researchers. In particular, in prioritizing research requirements over our own needs...’

‘the key gatekeeper is invariably the captain of a vessel’

‘It was clear that the Chief Officer . . . was very surprised by my arrival. He had no idea where I would be sleeping and hadn’t been expecting me. The Captain was asleep and the C.O. did not want to wake him. . . .’ (Fieldnotes)

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Sampson, H., Thomas, M. (2003) ‘Lone Researchers at Sea: gender, risk and responsibility’ Qualitative Research, 3(2): 165-189.

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REFERENCESSampson, H., Thomas, M. (2003) ‘Lone Researchers at Sea: gender,

risk and responsibility’ Qualitative Research, 3(2): 165-189.Michael Ager: Speaking of ethnography, sageFieldwork on board ships: A look inside the ethnographer's

workshop. / Grøn, S & Knudsen, F. (Mercator: Maritime Innovation, research and education, Nr. june, 01.2011, s. 363-368).

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And good luck

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THANK YOU