Paper short abstract:

This paper reflects on the approach taken to delimit ‘the field’ of an ethnographic study exploring the impacts of deportation for migrants in the UK. It addresses the methodological and ethical challenges of researching a population that is vulnerable, scattered geographically and hard-to-reach.

Paper long abstract:

This paper addresses key epistemological challenges encountered when undertaking ethnographic research with foreign convicts facing deportation from the UK. Of concern here are the assumptions and expectations of "the field" in ethnographic research and related ethical dilemmas. Traditionally the field is a geographical location, exotic and far removed. Yet today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to draw the boundaries of one's field of research. What connects the subjects of this study is that they themselves or those close to them have faced or are facing deportation. This does not necessarily mean that they identify with each other on the basis of their experiences of deportation. How then can the field be defined when its population not only is geographically scattered as it can hardly be described as a group, let alone a community? Against this background, how can one identify and access informants? How can one carry ethnographic research in a setting where there is nothing immediately available to observe? Taking guidance in Joanne Passaro's work with homeless people in the US, several strategies were devised to delimit and access the field. These strategies required the researcher to assume a variety of roles, resulting at times in the production of 'un-usable' information thus adding to ethical dilemmas already inherent to studying a vulnerable population such as this one. The paper here presented discusses these challenges as well as the approach taken to overcome them and the ethical issues ensuing from it.