Planning and Preparation*

*We recognize funders may require defining research questions/objectives to secure support. Where feasible, we recommend engaging communities earlier rather than later in the process, prioritizing co-design. The steps shared below may not be linear and may need to be revised throughout the research as new information about the study comes to light, especially as you engage your community. 

Consider who is requesting the data and how it will be used. This helps determine what type of information to collect, how it should be gathered, and how the results will be communicated and presented to the intended audience. Data intended for communities versus government partners may require different methods, approaches, and/or indicators. 

Reach out to local researchers, organizations, institutions, and ideally, directly with the communities in question. Building relationships early can enhance the relevance of your study and help with translations, understanding cultural context, connecting with additional stakeholders and rightsholders, and logistical arrangements. Engaging expertise from various disciplines (e.g. ecologists, conservation managers, traditional knowledge holders) could also strengthen your research by providing diverse perspectives and skills. Such collaboration helps build trust and may reveal insights into past research at that location, helping you navigate potential challenges in the research process.

Outline specific research questions or objectives that align with conservation goals. Whenever possible, co-create these questions or objectives with stakeholders such as local communities, Indigenous peoples, conservation practitioners, government agencies. This collaborative process ensures that research is grounded in real-world needs, respects cultural sensitivities, and avoids duplicating existing research efforts. 

Plan the methods and analyses that will allow you to answer your research questions or objectives. Consider the type of data required and the tools or techniques needed for data collection and analysis (e.g., GIS mapping, statistical modeling, interviews, etc.).

Obtain necessary ethical clearances from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee, particularly when working with human participants. Be sure to check the local and governmental requirements for obtaining ethical clearance. Adhere to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) protocols. See Research Ethics Menu on ConSoSci.org.

Plan a schedule for your research, including key milestones such as planning and getting permissions, finalizing your methods and tools, conducting research, analyzing findings, and reporting results. While timelines may change as research progresses, having a preliminary schedule helps keep the project on track and within budget.

Reflect on the benefits and impact your work can have — whether through advancing scientific discovery, knowledge sharing, capacity building, direct project contributions, or involvement in decision-making processes related to conservation.

Choose a team based on the research methods you’ve selected, your budget, needed skills and roles, and relationships with local partners. Depending on the project’s needs, you may need to hire additional research support or recruit volunteers for specific tasks, such as data collection or enumeration. Proper training for all team members is essential to ensure they understand protocols, methods, and ethical standards. Assigning a project manager can be helpful for coordinating communication, scheduling meetings, and keeping the project on track.

Familiarize yourself with the cultural, social and historical background of the region where the research will take place. Reviewing relevant materials (e.g., literature, videos, podcasts, songs, ethnographies, blogs) on land-use practices, community traditions, cultural practices, governance, and economic activities is important. When possible, visit the site(s) to observe and engage with the local environment firsthand. This understanding of the cultural, economic, and political context not only helps contextualize your findings but also strengthens relationships and reduces the risk of misinterpretation or bias in your research. 

Explore literature related to your project or similar studies conducted in other regions or with different species. For example, if studying human-elephant conflict, look into human-lion, human-tiger, or human-carnivore conflicts as well as the broader socio-political drivers. This comparative approach can reveal lessons and patterns that inform your research design and analysis.

Consider the following possible expenses: 

PERSONNEL

• Salaries and wages. For example, compensation for the PI, co-investigators, research assistants, and/or other project staff); 

• Local collaborators. For example, translators, guides, cultural mediators, local researchers, local field assistants, or any specialized experts needed for your study;

• Other personnel-related. For example, professional transcribers, focus group facilitators, GIS specialists, audio-visual support.

PERMITS/ ADMINISTRATIVE

• Ethical clearance. Include fees for review and approval processes for obtaining ethical clearance as needed;

• Research permits. In many countries, research involving human subjects, requires official permits or permission from local authorities or institutions - often in addition to ethical clearance. This can also include permits required for fieldwork such as permits associated with entering/studying in protected areas;

• Administrative and institutional overhead. Some organizations or institutions charge overhead fees (usually a percentage of total costs) to support administrative functions. Check if this applies and factor it into your budget.

TRAVEL 

• Transportation. For example, international and domestic flights, vehicle rental and average fuel/per day, public transport, other transportation (e.g., horses, taxi);

• Lodging. For example, hotels, camps, housing for fieldwork;

• Food. Average per person/day costs of meals; 

• Visa. If working in another country, budget for visa fees. 

FIELDWORK

• Field equipment. For example, mobile phones, phone data, tablets, GPS units, cameras and other field gear (e.g., tents, protective clothing, first aid kit, rain boots); 

• Field supplies. For example, printing surveys, interview guides, notebooks, writing utensils, batteries, USB drives, voice recorder;

• Participant compensation. In some cases, provide a culturally appropriate token of appreciation (e.g., food commodity, small payment) for those participating in your research (e.g., interviews, focus groups, surveys, or workshops). If participants need to travel to interview sites or meetings, budget for their travel and accommodation stipends;

• Training and capacity building. If your project includes large gatherings or workshops for training, stakeholder engagement, or knowledge sharing, include costs for venue rental, refreshments, and possibly transportation for attendees.

DATA ANALYSIS

• Data analysis tools. For example, SPSS, NVivo, Atlas.ti, GIS;

• Survey platforms. For examples, Qualtrics, Survey123, KoboToolbox;

• Data storage. If using cloud-based platforms for data storage, allocate funds for subscriptions and secure storage solutions. 

OTHER

• Contingency funds. Set aside 5-10% of your total budget as a contingency plan for unexpected expenses, such as delays in fieldwork, equipment failure, or changes in travel costs;

• Dissemination. If you plan to publish your research in open-access journals, allocate funds for article processing charges. If you intend to present your findings at a conference, include associated costs (e.g., conference registration, travel, accommodation, meals). Additionally, budget for sharing results with the community, whether through meetings, workshops, printed materials, or other forms of engagement, to ensure findings are accessible. 

Local Engagement

In some cases, before beginning research and engaging individuals as research participants, seek permission to work in the community by informing and consulting with local leaders or relevant authorities. Always follow free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) processes to ensure that participation is voluntary, ethical, and based on a clear understanding of the research purpose, methods, and potential impacts.

Build relationships with local communities and research partners. This can include setting up meetings prior to data collection, participating in community activities or gatherings, and co-designing research objectives and methods or seeking feedback. Take time to explain how the research outcomes may benefit the community and/or the environment, while also listening to any concerns or potential risks they may identify. Where desired by the community and applicable to your research, ensure collaboration and transparency throughout the process to foster mutual trust and respect.

Have discussions with partners and the local community early on about how they can be involved in the research and the strategic direction of the work. This will help determine the level of involvement they wish to have and identify which stages of the research they would like to be engaged in. In some cases, they may want to be involved throughout the entire research process, from data collection to the dissemination of results. Be sure to share the results with the community before publication, allowing them to provide feedback and raise any concerns. 

Work with the local community to understand their approach to traditional knowledge and the sharing of that information outside of the community. Be sure to establish an appropriate process to ensure data sovereignty for the community. 

Provide a culturally relevant acknowledgment to those who participate in your study. This could include a form of compensation, if appropriate or expected, whether in the form of a small payment, food, service, or other token of appreciation. To understand what might be culturally-appropriate, seek feedback from cultural mediators, key informants, local researchers, local field assistants, or other collaborators. Additionally, ensure that contributions are recognized in ways that are meaningful to the community, whether through public recognition, follow-up updates, or continuing engagement after the study is completed.

When applicable, identify the target audience early on and design both the data collection process and the output to meet their specific needs. Use a variety of communication methods to share results in ways that resonate with different audiences, such as local communities, policymakers, and natural resource managers, ensuring that the communication is accessible to each group, considering language, complexity, and format.

Beyond the research itself, consider ways to support skill development and knowledge exchange within the community. If possible, provide training, mentorship, or co-learning opportunities that empower local collaborators beyond the immediate study. Maintaining relationships and providing follow-up updates after the research concludes helps ensure long-term collaboration and ethical engagement.

Fieldwork Logistics

Secure all necessary permits for field access, research, and data collection from relevant government or local authorities. This may require both online and paper submission to relevant offices in-country. Bring copies of all approved permits and permissions into the field. 

If you need a visa, understand the country’s visa requirements well in advance, including processing times and costs. 

Research the required vaccinations for the country where your fieldwork will take place, and keep a copy of your vaccination record when travelling.

Check if your institution or organization provides adequate travel insurance for fieldwork. If not, ensure you have your own travel insurance that covers all aspects of your research, including health and accident coverage, especially in remote or risky areas.

Depending on the field site and research budget, accommodations could range from hotels to guesthouses, homestays with local families, or camping. Confirm availability in advance, especially if working in remote areas, and clarify the type of accommodation that will be available to your field team. 

Research local food and common meals based on the season. If you follow a specific diet, pack the necessary food supplies, especially in remote areas where food options may be limited. Familiarize yourself with cultural norms around food, such as whether finishing your plate is considered polite, or if certain foods are avoided for religious or cultural reasons. 

Consider how you will physically access your research site(s), especially if they are in remote or hard-to-reach areas. Depending on the terrain, arrange for transportation using off-road vehicles, boats, or animals (horses, donkeys). Plan for vehicle breakdowns in remote areas and consider hiring local drivers who are familiar with the area.

Verify the availability of local phone networks and whether your mobile carrier supports connectivity in the area. If your mobile plan does not work, purchase a local SIM card with sufficient credit for the duration of your stay, especially for internet access. In isolated or potentially unsafe regions where phone networks are unavailable, consider bringing a satellite phone for reliable communication.

Prepare a risk management plan, including emergency contacts, first-aid kits, protocols for wildlife encounters, proactive approaches for any gender-based concerns, or adverse weather. Know the location and contact details of the nearest doctor or hospital. This also includes planning for safety measures such as traveling in groups, working with local security, or avoiding high-risk areas. Ensure you are familiar with and follow your organization’s safety or security protocols, if available.

Always carry a copy of your passport and important identification documents with you. Also, have key medical information (e.g., allergies, blood type, medical conditions) readily available in case of an emergency.

Consider the climate and seasonal changes that may affect fieldwork, such as monsoons, dry seasons, or migratory patterns of animals.

Set up a system to track expenses, receipts, and reimbursements to ensure you stay within budget. 

Data Collection

Choose sampling methods that are feasible given the local population size and geographic conditions (e.g., snowball sampling, stratified random sampling, purposive techniques). This circles back to the planning stage of the research and the benefit of co-creating your research design with local stakeholders.

Be mindful of local schedules, such as market days, religious holidays, customs related to burials, and agricultural or fishing seasons, which could affect the availability of participants. 

Use translators or interpreters if necessary and prepare translated versions of surveys and consent forms prior to data collection. Test these with native speakers of the language. Also consider hiring local collaborators to gather the data, which can help elevate local voices in research and publishing. 

Ensure your data collection methods are practical for the field. Tools like KoBoToolbox or open-source mobile data (ODK) are some of the platforms available for remote, offline data gathering.

Test tools like survey instruments or interview guides in the field to ensure they are clear and appropriate for the local context. 

Always have a backup for data storage, such as external hard drives, cloud storage (when possible), or duplicate data forms. Ensure that all collected data, especially sensitive information about participants, is anonymized and handled according to ethical guidelines.

Keep detailed field notes, not only about the data but also about the context, unexpected challenges encountered, and reflect on your positionality, biases, methods that may influence your findings. Photos, drawings, and GPS coordinates can also be invaluable.

Host debriefing sessions with your research team to gather insights from their experiences during fieldwork. 

Post-fieldwork

Post-fieldwork is an opportunity to recognize your team’s hard work, debrief on challenges, and foster morale for future work. Take the time to thank and acknowledge those who supported your research, including local guides, translators, and research participants. 

Reconcile your fieldwork expenses with your budget, ensuring all costs are accounted for and within the allocated funds. Prepare any financial reports for funders, detailing how the budget was spent. 

Factor in the time needed for any data entry not completed in the field, as well as for data cleaning and analysis. Ensure proper interpretation of both qualitative and quantitative data in context. In many cases, you will need to anonymize data by removing personally identifiable information (e.g., addresses, phone numbers, names) to protect participant privacy.

Create diagrams, graphs, charts, maps, or other visual tools to help convey your findings. This is useful for formal reports, presentations, or even social media and website content.

Share findings with the scientific community, funding organizations and donors (if applicable), project partners, and the communities involved in the fieldwork. Where appropriate, offer research participants or local communities a chance to review key findings before publication or a summary report. Transparency builds long-term trust and collaboration and provides an opportunity to engage ethically with the communities and stakeholders involved.

Some funders or institutional review boards (IRBs) require progress reports or compliance documents. Ensure all necessary reporting is completed according to institutional and funding guidelines. 

Some research requires long-term data archiving in repositories, especially when funded by public grants. This ensures your data is available for future use or reanalysis by other researchers. 

Based on your findings, you may draft policy recommendations or practical guidelines for conservation practitioners, local government, or NGOs. Post-fieldwork often leads to new questions or areas that need further investigation, so you may need to plan additional research, write grant proposals, or start new collaborations.