Data Collection as a Journey

Abstract

The journey approach for data collection may enable the novice researcher to reflect on their data collection processes, and it aims to point to potential creative solutions that can help create a coherent study deeply rooted in its social environment. Fieldwork becomes a part of the project, rather than an isolated element that needs to be done. Through this approach, even a novice researcher can demonstrate connected insights that are not only relevant to the study itself but also the subject of study. A creative, multi-layered approach to resources and created opportunities may help increase the feasibility of a study by reacting to and interacting with the social context of the field. This chapter reflects on the author's data collection progress during her PhD program and invites readers to discover actionable steps that can be used to overcome the inertia due to inability to secure access to a field site.