Labs of Contextualized Urban Social Work
How to prepare students for field research
To think about
Ofcourse the chosen method depends on the local context. See what method of which methods fit your context best and go with that.
In the document below, you can find tips and reflective questions for you as lecturer to help you get started setting up urban fieldwork in a LOCUS way.
A LOCUS approach to field research
Field research is the core phase of fieldwork. In our case it involves three main methods:
- Surveys
- Short street interviews
- Observations
Students actively engage with the community and space. This step develops skills in: Ethical research practice; Critical thinking; Contextual interpretation.
Key methods employed in LOCUS
1. Surveys (Questionnaire-Based)
In the early phases of LOCUS you and your partners design a structured survey to gather detailed insights into people’s opinions, needs, and experiences. These questionnaires are typically administered in public spaces, either in paper form or digitally, allowing for a broad and inclusive collection of data.
2. Short Street Interviews
Short street interviews are spontaneous, informal conversations that last no longer than five minutes. They focus on a single, clear question—such as “What do you like about this area?”—and are designed to quickly capture the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of community members in the moment.
3. Observations – Seeing Beyond the Surface
Observations can be used as a standalone method or in combination with others to deepen understanding. Team your students up to do their observation assignments. Try to get them to journal about what they see, hear and sense in a space. The process is guided by reflective questions such as:
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What kinds of activities are taking place here?
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Who is using the space, and in what ways?
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What aspects of the environment support or hinder inclusion?
This method helps uncover subtle dynamics and patterns that might not be captured through direct questioning alone.
Partners
