Flexibility in the field: Reflections on letting go of expectations and learning to work with unofficial research support

I planned to conduct fieldwork in rural China with the help of research assistants. I knew I needed advice and translation and hoped that I would find partners and friends to go into the field with me, as I didn’t really want to be alone. However, I never found reliable research assistants. I learned to think of my research subjects as my friends and research assistants. They had as much to teach me as any other graduate student, professor, or guide. By the end of 10 months of fieldwork, I came to prefer working without official assistants but with local villagers and village leaders. This post shares some reflections on the challenges of finding reliable research assistants and how to rethink and appreciate the assistance available, writes Elise Pizzi