Fieldwork in Challenging Contexts and Times of Heightened Global Tension (QMMR)
Half Day Short Course | Register here
2026 APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition — Boston, MA
1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
How can researchers effectively and ethically navigate the challenges of conducting fieldwork in politically sensitive and logistically complex contexts? This short course will explore the challenges of conducting fieldwork in countries and regions such as Africa, China, East Asia, India, Latin America, the Middle East, and Russia. Participants will learn strategies for collecting archival, qualitative, quantitative, and experimental data in contexts where logistical and ethical challenges are magnified by political constraints. Topics will include mitigating security risks, managing researcher and participant well-being, collecting and triangulating different types of data, including digital fieldwork, and addressing positionality and reflexivity in research processes. The course will also examine how global and local political tensions influence research design, access, and outcomes. The session will feature a general overview and presentations addressing key themes. Each presentation will be followed by an interactive discussion, allowing participants to ask questions, share experiences, and gain practical insights into the ethical and methodological challenges of conducting fieldwork in complex settings. The instructors are Nermin Allam (Rutgers-Newark), Justine Davis (University of Michigan), and Roselyn Hsueh (Temple University).
- APSA Annual Meeting Pre-conference Short Courses are half- or full-day events that offer diverse professional development opportunities and allow attendees to connect with scholars from various backgrounds. This year’s pre-conference short courses will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts. Sponsored by APSA Organized Sections, Related Groups, and other affiliated organizations. All short courses require pre-registration to attend.
- Register here for the APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition »