The Role of Research Assistants in Qualitative and Cross-Cultural Social Science Research
Cross-cultural research frequently involves working with research assistants to conduct data collection activities. Due to the range of different functions that research assistants end up fulfilling, from translator to guide to gatekeeper, it is clear tha
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Sara Stevano and Kevin Deane
Contents 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Research Assistants: Necessary to the Research Process? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1 Who is the Research Assistant? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 How to Assess When Research Assistants Are Needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Working with Research Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 An Employment Relation: Recruiting Research Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 Research Assistants’ Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Conceptual and Ethical Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Conclusions and Future Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Abstract
Cross-cultural research frequently involves working with research assistants to conduct data collection activities. Due to the range of different functions that research assistants end up fulfilling, from translator to guide to gatekeeper, it is clear that their participation in the research project has implications for the quality of the study design, its process and outcomes. However, their role is not always explored. Drawing on our own research as well as that of others, this chapter discusses a set of key practical decisions researchers need to make when planning their fieldwork – from assessing whether a research assistant is needed to managing a work relation. We show how these practical considerations are S. Stevano (*) Department of Economics, University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol, Bristol, UK e-mail: [email protected] K. Deane Department of Economics, International Development and International Relations, The University of Northampton, Northampton, UK e-mail: [email protected] # Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019 P. Liamputtong (ed.), Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5251-4_39
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intertwined with the power asymmetries rooted in the employment relation between researcher and research assistant. We also explore how the triangular power dynamics between research participants, research assistants, and researchers influence the research process and outcomes, as well
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