Orientation to Field Work

1
Orientation to Field Work
2
Orientation to Field Work

• Why field work is necessary
• Why this orientation is necessary
• What NOT to do in the field
• What to do in the field
• Other field issues
• Conclusion

3
Why is field work necessary?

• You cant solve a problem unless you really
  understand it.
• You cant solve rural poverty by sitting at a
  desk in an air-conditioned office on the other
  side of the world.

4
Why is this orientation necessary?

• We hold our field staff to these same rules
• Rural areas and India are new to many of you
• Field work is new to almost everyone in the room
• There have been past incidents!

5
What NOT to do in the field

• Do NOT accept food, water, or anything else from
  respondents
• Do NOT smoke, curse, drink alcohol, consume paan,
  etc. in or around respondents
• Do NOT take photos of someone without his or her
  explicit permission
• Do NOT give money, gifts, etc. to respondents or
  surveyors

6
What NOT to do in the field

• Do NOT interrupt an ongoing survey, even if you
  see problems. Instead, immediately after the
  survey, talk to the surveyor separately.
  Additionally, inform the supervisor afterwards.

7

• Ladies AND men
• Anything tank top, camisole, etc. (Even
  sleeveless is a little risky in the rural areas)
• Anything above the knee
• Anything really tight
• Anything that reveals underwear
• If you are unsure, ask your fellow RA

8
What to do in the field

• Pay attention to what your supervisor asks you to
  do he or she knows best how to act in your
  particular situation.
• Keep your mobile charged and on, but on SILENT or
  VIBRATE mode

9
What to do in the field

• Be polite. Remember, you are a guest in
  someones home and in someones village.
• Do your best not to attract attention.
• Walk behind the surveyors
• Sit in the back of a room, instead of at the
  chair in the front
• Smile!

10
What to do in the field

• Be gracious
• Thank the respondent for letting us visit her
  home and take her time
• Thank the surveyor who let you visit

11
Other Field Issues

• Fake Surveys
• - surveys completed without visiting HH
• - Goat surveyed
• - Surveyed a respondent who is not in the
  village for years
• - Part filled up/part made up
• Common Excuse
• -HH not found
• -HoH/members not present
• Lack of clarity
• -Concept behind each question
• -Definition
• -Protocol
• -Over confident

12
Other Field Issues

• Field decorum
• - Flashy dress
• - Not respecting village complexities (girl/boys
  holding each other hand and going around the
  village
• Behavioral issues
• - Arrogant
• - Not respecting people privacy
• Missing surveys
• - Reported as completed
• Scrutiny
• Manipulation (expense)