Abstract
This article deals with the main obstacles in the way of conducting field research in Eastern Europe. Focusing on Ukraine, the article confronts a number of research design rules with the post-Soviet reality. Taking into consideration cultural and political factors, the article seeks to highlight the challenges that await researchers. Thanks to personal experience acquired in Ukraine, the author points to some of the potential difficulties, as well as opportunities awaiting political scientists conducting research in the region.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Diekmann, A. (2005) Empirische Sozialforschung. Grundlagen, Methoden, Anwendungen, Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt.
King, G., Keohane, R.O. and Verba, S. (1994) Designing Social Inquiry, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Sarantakos, S. (2005) Social Research, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Schnell, R., Hill, P.B. and Esser, E. (2006) Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung, München: Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Sergiej Dorogunzow, Alexander Ivanov, Viktor Kuzovkov, Katya Nuzhnenko and Erhard Wiehn for supporting my research work in Ukraine, as well as Gerald Schneider, Michael Dobbins and Aleksandra Jasinska for reading and commenting on the article. I am also grateful for financial support from Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and DAAD.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Drzewiecka, A. the joys and perils of conducting field research in eastern europe. Eur Polit Sci 6, 295–301 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.eps.2210135
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.eps.2210135