Toolkit: Position Yourself, Assess, Prepare

This section brings together the practical tools developed to support researchers in all phases of their fieldwork: before departure, during immersion, and upon return.

Name: Date:

TOOL 1 — Before Departure: Positioning Yourself and Identifying Risks

Objective: this tool is completed by the researcher alone, prior to departure. It aims to explicit her positionality, her perceived vulnerabilities and anticipated risks, in preparation for an informed discussion with her supervisor (Tool 2).

Positionality

Gender and potential sexualisation — In this context, how might my gender be interpreted?

Age, academic status — Does my status and my age (actual and perceived) increase the likelihood of being patronised or giving facilitated but biased access to the field?

Nationality, ethnicity — Will I be perceived as a privileged foreigner, potential spy, sexualised woman, credible professional? Will my ethnicity influence my fieldwork?

Language — How might my language level influence my relationship with the field (accent, mistakes, misunderstandings)?

Perceived social class — Do my clothing, phone or social codes create a discrepancy?

Family background — Will I be asked about my “husband”, my parents, my children (or absence thereof), my religion, my social group (e.g. caste)?

Personal constraints — Menstruation, physical and mental health, mental load, disability: what concrete implications?

Risk Identification

Physical, environmental (e.g. Extreme temperatures, natural disasters, illness, dangerous modes of transport, conflict zones, pollution, hostile flora and fauna, availability of clean water, power or water cuts)

Political, security-related (e.g. Surveillance, interrogation, permits, morals police)

Interactional (e.g. Unwanted advances, paternalism, alcohol, shifts, assaults, harassment, discrimination, GBSV)

Physical integrity (e.g. Physical violence, bodily constraints, risks associated with searches, pat-downs, intrusive checks, forced exposure to physically demanding situations)

Interview locations (e.g. Closed spaces: bars, private homes, etc. Controlled locations: sensitive areas, high-risk settings, presence of weapons, heavily male-dominated environments)

Social, cultural (e.g. Patriarchal norms, ethnicisation, local hierarchies)

Emotional, psychological (e.g. Overload, stupefaction, secondary shock, extreme exhaustion)

Institutional (e.g. Lack of support, absence of administrative assistance (insurance), vague mission order)

Digital, data (e.g. Intrusive online messaging, menstrual tracking applications, USB drives, data leaks)

Personal, family life (e.g. Family pressure, worry, isolation)

Personal assessment of risk areas — to be completed freely

Situations or contexts that seem acceptable to me at this stage:

Situations that feel uncomfortable but are manageable:

Situations that I perceive as non-negotiable for me:

Situations in which I would rather forgo certain data than abandon the fieldwork:

Early warning signs that I fear I might underestimate:

Points on which I would explicitly like my supervisor’s opinion:

What I dare not say — are there any worries, intuitions or past experiences that I have been unable to articulate elsewhere but which feel important to flag?

The elements above will serve as a basis for the joint assessment with the supervisor and for the definition of thresholds and decisions formalised in Tool 2.

TOOL 2 — Before Departure: A Joint Assessment with the Supervisor

Objective: to frame together the acceptable risks, institutional support and shared responsibilities.

NB: the elements arising from this joint assessment may under no circumstances be used in an academic, disciplinary or administrative evaluation of the researcher.

Researcher: Supervisor: Date:

Scientific objectives

What exactly are we seeking to produce?

Which data are essential, secondary, substitutable?

Essential:

Secondary:

Substitutable:

From what level of results do we consider the fieldwork sufficient?

Methodological alternatives

TOOL 3 — Before Departure: Preparing Your Fieldwork

In my bag I have …

Essentials

Practical equipment

Clothing appropriate to local social norms and climate conditions
Closed-toe shoes
A ring that can serve as a wedding band if necessary
Lightweight sleeping equipment (sleeping bag liner, travel sheets) in case of basic accommodation
Optionally: entertainment (card games, board games, books, etc.)
If needed: a comfort item (book, photo, piece of jewellery) in case of homesickness

Communication equipment

A functional phone for fieldwork
A local SIM card or operational means of communication from the moment of arrival: find out about any phone registration obligations and local regulations
A portable power bank
Adapters for local electrical sockets, and voltage converters for some countries
A field notebook and pen
A legitimising document or item if necessary (institutional badge, official letter, professional card)

An expanded medical kit

Anti-pollution and surgical masks
Contraception and emergency contraception if needed (check local regulations)
Gynaecological care (treatments for thrush, dryness, urinary tract infections)
Menstrual preparedness: appropriate sanitary products and medications
Essential personal medications, with emergency quantities where possible

Verify that medications are permitted in the destination country and have prescriptions translated if necessary.

What to remove from your bag before you leave

Empty your pockets.

Business cards or documents mentioning individuals whose nationality or status could be compromising, particularly in cases of dual nationality
Coins from third countries
Objects, books or products that could cause problems at border crossings
Cigarettes, which may be perceived as a sign of loose morals or give rise to unwanted interactions

Check customs import/export regulations in the destination and transit countries.

Logistical preparation

Accommodation booked and confirmed, ideally with a reception desk if arriving at night
Accommodation address accessible offline
Key itineraries mapped out (accommodation ↔ interview locations) and a general knowledge of local public transportation
Identify hospitals and medical centres: quality of care, accessibility, services available, languages spoken, etc.
Safe public spaces identified near the accommodation
Back-up accommodation in place
Safe return options planned in case of late or unplanned travel

Presenting yourself in the field: prepared elements

A short presentation to explain who you are and what you are doing, consistent with your status on the ground (researcher, student, tourist)
A presentation strategy adapted to the context
Prepared responses to common questions:

“Where is your husband?”

“Where are your children?”

“Why are you alone?”

(supported by photos where relevant)

Ready-made phrases for politely refusing a location, a drink or a situation

Digital preparation

Securing tools and data (before departure)

Save sensitive data offline, on encrypted media
Plan for secure backup procedures (encrypted USB drive, external hard drive, secure cloud depending on context)
Where possible, separate fieldwork digital tools from personal ones (phones, accounts, computers)
Ensure strong, unique passwords are in use; enable two-factor authentication where possible
Anticipate situations involving checks, confiscation or searches of digital devices; limit locally stored data to what is strictly necessary

Configuring digital tools for the field

Create a dedicated professional email account for fieldwork
Set up a VPN suited to the fieldwork country, taking local restrictions into account
Download offline maps and essential applications
Install a location-sharing application with a trusted person
Update systems and applications; uninstall unnecessary or sensitive applications
Identify neutral sources of information in a language you understand, to stay informed without a language barrier

Checking and reducing your digital footprint (ATTENTION)

Before departure, check what is publicly accessible or easily searchable.

Search results relating to you on various search engines
Social media: posts, accounts followed, content liked or shared, any content prohibited and/or banned in the destination country
Media appearances: interviews, podcasts, broadcasts
Academic publications, institutional affiliations and institutional links
Sensitive applications installed on devices (e.g. dating apps, menstrual tracking apps)

Check that photos, messages and content are in keeping with local legislation and social norms of the destination country. For instance: delete or hide intimate or revealing images (including swimwear photos) that could be classified as pornographic in certain legal or cultural contexts.

On return: protecting the security of research participants

Verify that all data is anonymised or pseudonymised
Ensure that no content puts research participants or intermediaries at risk
Check that files are stored securely
Blur or anonymise photographs of individuals where necessary

TOOL 4 — In the Field: Warning Signs

Date: Fieldwork day no.:

NB: this checklist does not replace a clinical assessment. It is designed as a self-monitoring tool. The signals described may vary in intensity and appear at different moments: sometimes barely perceptible at the time, particularly in situations of intense stress, they may manifest during fieldwork, in the weeks that follow, or several months after return. If in doubt, or if symptoms persist, contact a healthcare professional.

Quick self-assessment (to be done every evening)

Is my energy level insufficient to continue tomorrow?
Have I managed to identify three neutral or positive moments today?
Did I feel safe at any point today?
Did I avoid a situation that I should have stopped earlier?

Signals to monitor

Physical signals

Persistent extreme fatigue despite rest, sleep disturbances
Muscle tension, shiver
Recurring headaches
Loss of appetite, nausea, digestive problems
Hypersensitivity to external stimuli (noise, light, etc.)

Cognitive signals

Difficulty concentrating
Confusion or unusual forgetfulness
Intrusive thoughts linked to scenes or accounts from the field
Difficulty making simple decisions

Emotional and relational signals

Unusual irritability, significant mood swings
Persistent anxiety, panic attacks
Paranoid feelings
Difficulty experiencing positive emotions

Behavioural signals

Increasing isolation, avoidance of interactions
Hypervigilance (excessive monitoring of surroundings)
Increased alcohol or anxiolytic use
Impulsivity or risky behaviour

Red signals: take a break and contact your reference person

Inability to continue through the day
Feeling of being in danger even in an objectively safe location
Dissociation episode (feeling of unreality)
Persistent intrusive thoughts
Hypervigilance preventing sleep
Fear of emotional collapse

If several symptoms appear simultaneously for more than 72 hours, if an incident continues to invade your thoughts daily, if you feel unable to decide alone on the next steps in the field: contact your reference person, a healthcare professional, speak to a trusted colleague, briefly note what happened, withdraw temporarily if needed: listen to yourself.