Improving insight, empathy and listening in global health research
In the world of research, fieldwork involves collecting information (“data”), often in a particular setting or community (real or virtual). It spans a range of activities from interviews and focus group discussions to observing and documenting slices of everyday life (and everything in between!)
A bridge between communities and researchers
Fieldwork is a cornerstone of global health research. It generates key data for policies and action to improve health outcomes, strengthen health systems and deliver affordable, quality healthcare for all, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised.
Tasked with collecting and managing such data, field teams are a crucial bridge between local communities and researchers. Field teams are responsible for communicating project goals, arranging access to participants, developing relationships and translating knowledge. They make decisions about who and what (not) to ask, and how to listen and respond to participants in surveys, interviews and discussions.
Exploring what it means to be hospitable, curious and empathetic in the field - A visit to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Field teams are uniquely positioned to contribute to global health knowledge and solutions, not only in how they collect and interpret the realities they document, but also through their own observations and experiences of the field. They navigate through often difficult landscapes of inequality, hardship and resilience while collecting information about suffering, pain, healing, birth and death. The ‘field’ is not simply a place where research happens. It is also a political, social and emotional landscape, shaped by both researcher and participant.
Knowledge without borders
Using storytelling methods to tell fieldwork stories
However, global health research field teams, rarely (if ever) have the opportunity to meet each other to share knowledge and discuss what they do: what works, what doesn’t, and how insight, empathy and listening are engendered. So researchers in the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Improving Health in Slums ran a workshop on fieldwork in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan. Dr Bronwyn Harris from the University of Warwick, who led the project, explains:
“We shared experiences, exploring what it means to do fieldwork collaboratively across five countries and three continents. We identified future funding ideas for greater insight, empathy and listening in global health research."
Peter Kibe, a team member from the African Population and Health Research Center, Kenya explains that "fieldwork is diverse and unique space where interactions occur, friendships are built and networks are established. There are many boundaries in field work cutting across the physical borders and socio-cultural values, it is however not lost to us that field work is the cornerstone of global health research with its own narrative that needs to be told. For this reason field work always matters."
New perspectives
Fieldworkers share their knowledge and experience
The workshop encouraged a people-centred approach that places participants and their situations at the of heart global health research. “This brought fresh perspectives to the relationships, knowledge and power within and between international collaborations” explains Dr Harris.
The workshop created a space for listening to, and documenting, the interests, needs and experiences of fieldworkers. Sharing knowledge, methods and examples of good practice allowed participants to learn from each other, compare approaches and build future international partnerships.
The project has helped field workers take forward key ideas and ways of working together in order to improve global health research. The project addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Good Health and Well-Being and Partnerships for the Goals.
Workshop participants: Maryam Abdulrahaman, Syed A K Shifat Ahmed, Motunrayo Ajisola, Kehkashan Azeem, Bronwyn Harris, Peter Kibe, Md Zahrul Rana, Komal Tabani, Frederick Wekesah, Godwin Yeboah
Participating institutions: African Population and Health Research Center, Kenya; Aga Khan University, Pakistan; Independent University, Bangladesh; Mitra and Associates (Center for Research and Consultancy), Bangladesh; University of Ibadan, Nigeria; University of Warwick, UK.
Workshop co-facilitator, Dr Syed Shifat Ahmed from Independent University Bangladesh, concludes “It was quite fascinating to learn that regardless of our geographical and cultural differences, the challenges and issues confronting the fieldworkers can be universal. Therefore, I see a great value in having a common platform for the fieldworkers to share their stories and experiences that will only accentuate our understanding of what actually goes on in a field and thereby help us shape policies, methods and strategies for gaining “more real” data from the field”.
Principal Investigator: Dr Bronwyn Harris
Countries: Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan
UN Goals addressed:
