Field plan

Soon I will be in the field. One thing I realised (after speaking with my supervisor) is that I need a detailed field plan.

Well, naturally I did have a time frame for the proposal and I had even indicated what I will do for the different weeks. However, a detailed field plan includes break-down per day and even the type of data collected and participants. I am a little hesitant in making a detailed plan not because I do not value its importance but because I may get hang up on trying to follow it. At the same time, I am cognizant of the fact that the situation in the field is unpredictable. My design is qualitative case study and so it should be flexible enough to accommodate unexpected and unplanned situations. The question is, "will I be flexible enough?"
I already had to change one detailed field plan due to the delay in going to the field, it will be interesting to look back and see how how the final time log will compare to the proposed field plan. In a way, I have already learnt something about research and myself ... be flexible and open to change, research is going into the unknown!

Getting permits

It is not easy to get ethical clearance and then get the permit to conduct a research. However, it makes sense to have checks and counter-checks in the process. A research has the potential both for doing good as well as harm.  No matter what the research, even if it is not a new drug trial, due diligence is justified. At the same time, being on the waiting side is sometimes tense. Nevertheless, I am glad that other people have gone over my tools and  proposal to check for ethical issues. It is also very clear that gatekeepers starting with the Ministry of Education must give permission. A researcher may be independent in the field but ethics must always guide and bind us! Hopefully, all permits will be obtained soon and then I can proceed to "the field".