Instructions to Authors

Field Methods publishes articles about methods of data collection and data analysis, and about the presentation of data and findings. The international board of editors represents a broad range of disciplines and perspectives.

FM seeks articles on (among many other topics):

• collecting, analyzing and presenting quantitative data (survey data, coded texts, counts of behaviors) and qualitative data (text, images, sounds, artifacts)
• how to conduct all kinds of interviews (telephone interview, personal interviews, computer-based interviews, etc.)
• how to find and work with key informants in the field
• how to establish rapport in fieldwork
• how to take samples -- random and nonrandom samples -- under field conditions
• how to use video, still cameras, and tape recorders to collect and to present data
• how to assess response effects in interviews
• how to measure and account for respondent inaccuracy in reports of behavior
• how to assess intercoder reliability
• how to analyze all kinds of texts, including methods for understanding meaning
• how to look for pattern and meaning in text data (words, images, sounds, artifacts) using various kinds of computer software
• how to take and analyze field notes.

FM seeks articles from investigators across the social and behavioral sciences -- from those doing grounded theory research and those doing clinical research; from those doing research in academic environments to those doing research in applications environments (in corporations, government agencies, NGOs).

Field Methods also publishes articles on how to use special-purpose software in support of research.

All Field Methods articles are peer reviewed. Whenever possible, review is done by e-mail and contact with authors is also by e-mail.

Field Methods articles should not exceed 8,000 words, including the space taken by notes, references, tables and graphics (allow about 100 words per inch for tables and graphs). Please write in the first person, exercise restraint in using the passive voice, and use as little jargon as possible.

Send one copy, as an attached file, to H. Russell Bernard at ufruss@ufl.edu. Articles may be in WordPerfect or MS-Word. Mac users, please use the utility on your system to create a PC-compatible file. If you don't have the conversion utilities on your Mac, then please send a Word file as an attachment by e-mail and we'll convert the file for review.

In the rare event that you can not send an attached file, send a diskette and a letter of submission to Dr. H. Russell Bernard, Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, 1112 Turlington Hall, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA.

Further questions about submitting articles to Field Methods? Contact Russ Bernard at: ufruss@ufl.edu