Virtual Fieldwork Practices in Human Geography: Implementing Online Activity Diaries, Interviews, and Surveys
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Keywords: Virtual fieldwork, human geography, activity diaries, in-depth interviews, online surveys, female domestic workers, Hong Kong
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract
Authors:
Fikriyah Winata, Mississippi State University
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Abstract
Virtual/online methods offer important opportunities for field-based research in human geography. This presentation discusses the current state of online methodologies in human geography research and discusses the benefits and challenges of virtual fieldwork. Three examples of online methodologies (activity diaries, in-depth interviews, and online surveys) are covered based on virtual fieldwork I conducted with Indonesian female domestic workers (FDWs) in Hong Kong while I was in the United States. More specifically, my virtual fieldwork included geographic data collection for quantitative and qualitative samples during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data collected from virtual fieldwork was useful in understanding space-time constraints, (im)mobility experiences, and access to public places and social networks during the COVID-19 pandemic. I offer detailed lessons drawn from each online method and discuss approaches to using these methods in studying a vulnerable population, FDWs, that faces significant work-related space-time constraints. Further, I provide suggestions to anticipate virtual fieldwork challenges related to technological and logistical issues, including device availability, internet connections, (re)scheduling, and communications with research participants. Moving forward, I argue that virtual fieldwork can benefit human geographers beyond the border closures and COVID-19 restrictions that were imposed during the pandemic. Virtual fieldwork addresses expensive international and domestic travel costs, concerns of being away from family, and safety issues that geographers commonly face while planning and implementing in-person fieldwork. This presentation contributes to the emerging development and implementation of online methods for virtual fieldwork in human geography research.
Virtual Fieldwork Practices in Human Geography: Implementing Online Activity Diaries, Interviews, and Surveys
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Paper Abstract