This document discusses ethical guidelines and best practices for successful field practice in community work. It recommends showing respect for local culture and customs, learning some local language, addressing people politely by their titles rather than names, sitting at the same level, and not engaging in debates about politics. It also covers norms for ethical data collection like prior consent, confidentiality, and tools like transect walks, interviews, and participatory methods like diagramming and mapping. Challenges for student field workers are identified as language barriers, gender issues, biases, health conditions, and understanding gaps. The solution is recommended as learning the local language, creating rapport, participating in local events, and having strong willpower.

1. Working with People
in Community:
Field Reflections
Pradeep Kumar Panda
pradeep25687@yahoo.co.in
Whatsapp: 9951178889
www.pradeepkumarpanda.weebly.com

2. Community work is the profession bestowed with
missions of tackling social problems, and
eliminating societal deprivation, discrimination and
exploitation.
It is concerned with bringing about positive changes
in the wider socio-political arena.
It relates to changes in social policies and practices,
structural institutional changes, as well as changes
in the values and attitudes of the wider public.
The ability to feel the pain of the people who are
suffering, the possession of knowledge required to
design appropriate interventions and the skills in
bringing about change are all essential qualities of
an effective community worker.

4. OVERALL PURPOSE OF FIELD PRACTICE
Interaction
Learning
Trust
Transparency
Relatability
Application of Knowledge
Communication
Need Assessment
Conflict Navigation
Solutions of Community Problems

6. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Respect local culture.
Respect local faith and belief.
Do not refuse to participate.

7. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Do make an attempt to learn a
few words of the local language.
Never call them by their first
names. Likewise for all other
individuals of a community. It is
best to use the local expressions
like Bhai, Ben, Dada, Ji, Anna as
used in different places.

8. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Make sure that the tone of
speech when communicating with
the villagers or any other
stakeholders is always polite and
respectful.
Make sure that body language
must be respectful.

9. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Please remember to be accepting
of a different kind of living,
environment and people.
While being aware of cultural
sensitivities, be friendly and open
with community residents.

10. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Always sit at the same level with
the individual or the community.
Politely refuse and take your
seat with them on the ground.

12. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Do not drink or smoke while
interacting with the individuals
and communities.
Never use ‘Tum‘ or ‘Tu‘ or its
other Indian language equivalent
while talking to any individual or
community or any other
stakeholder.

13. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Do not react to social and
political environments in the
surrounding.
Remember that you are a
student in this scenario.
Do not engage in arguments
about party politics.

14. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Do not come across as
condescending and superior.
Do not laugh at any answer
or response you receive.
That will alienate you from
the community.

15. ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL FIELD PRACTICE
Do not wear sun glasses while
talking.
The other person(s) will not
trust you if they do not see your
eyes.
Don’t wear stylish/ much
fashionable clothes

16. Norms with regard to data collection
An ethical orientation towards data collection
requires you to be
aware of the history of research malpractice,
committed to ensuring that your research
intervention does not deliberately or
inadvertently compound the vulnerability of
respondents like child, victims etc.
Be clear about the laws governing research
with respective subjects
Prior Consent
Confidentiality of data

17. Tools of data collection
Transect Walk
Observation
Interview
Focus Group Discussion
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA)

18. Participatory Learning and Action (PLA)
Diagramming
Interviewing
Preference Ranking
Mapping and Modelling

19. Diagramming
1.Transect Walk
2.Seasonal Calendar
3.Venn Diagram
4.Daily Routine Charts
5.Flow Diagram

20. Interviewing
1.Structured – Questionnaire and Interview
2.Semi Structured
 Individual Interview
Group Interview
Key Informant Interview
Focus Group Discussion

21. Preference Ranking
1.Matrix Ranking (Prioritise)
2.Proportional Piling (Income, expenditure)
3.Poverty Ranking

22. Mapping and Modelling
1.Social Map
2.Resource Map
3.Topical Maps (Area, Crop, Population)
4.Hazard Map

23. Challenges for students during Field Work
1.Language Barriers
2.Gender
3.Caste and Class Biasness
4.Bias and Prejudice
5.Health and Hygiene condition
6.Continous Travel
7.Age Gap
8.Understanding Gap

24. Solution
1.Learn Local Language
2.Create rappourt with everyone
3.Always smile
4.Be Polite
5.Participate in their festivals, rituals & customs
6.Develop strong will power

25. Thank You