Faithful to CA’s naturalistic approach to data collection, this 1,5-day workshop provides hands-on training on fieldwork and data collection of face-to-face interaction (stationary and mobile activities, taking place in private vs. public space, as ordinary vs. institutional interaction, etc.). The workshop explores both the practical organization and the ethical dimensions of observational fieldwork and data collection. Participants will acquire practical skills in preparatory fieldwork and receive an in-depth training on how to collect audio- and/or video-data. First day (full): After a presentation of the specificities of naturalistic fieldwork (principle of unmotivated looking, ethics of observation, etc.), participants will do an observational study of naturally occurring interaction outside the lecture room, during which they will identify recurrent social phenomena while at the same time experiencing their accountability as observing researchers. They will then share their observational experience with each other in a group discussion. The first day ends with an introduction into the technical and organizational aspects of data collection. Participants are expected to collect 1h of data (in small groups) at the end of the first day. Recording equipment will be provided. Second day (half): Participants will present to each other the collected data and discuss the practical problems experienced. Every participant will then be familiarized with best practice in the rigorous organization of the recorded data (including systematic naming of the files) and metadata (such as drawings of the settings, signed consent forms, etc.).

Facilitated by: Elwys De Stefani