Santa Clara University investigators studying the climates and contexts created and experienced in field research settings found a lack of consequences for violations of rules governing appropriate conduct, as well as harassment, assault, and disruptions to career trajectories. Their research was published earlier this month in American Anthropologist.
For their study, Dr. Robin Nelson, of the department of anthropology, and her colleagues interviewed 26 scientists who had conducted field research across the life, physical, and social sciences. Many described field contexts with ambiguous or absent rules regarding appropriate behavior, or an absence of consequences when rules were broken. Several respondents described explicit instances where they believed their negative field experiences directly led to instances of career stalling, lateral career moves, or leaving their career paths altogether.
The team also found that positive experiences in the field enhanced the career, research, and leadership trajectories of respondents. In addition, respondents who stayed in the academic pipeline despite negative experiences made efforts to provide positive experiences and context for their trainees and junior collaborators.
The findings suggest that codes of conduct and accountability for transgressions are integral to fostering productive research, positive field-work experiences, and equal opportunity in professional development.
The paper also addresses specific tactics, such as policies, procedures, and paradigms that field site directors and principal investigators can implement to improve field experiences and better achieve equal opportunity in field research settings.
"It is time to hold researchers who violate the physical and emotional safety of our colleagues accountable. Our junior colleagues have to be as important as our findings," said Dr. Nelson. "As researchers, we must examine the ways that the status quo in our professional circles perpetuates bias, gender and otherwise. Only then we will succeed in creating inclusive work spaces."