FIELDWORK ACTIVITY
Assessment overview
Task Description: Report
Due Date: Friday 26 April 2019, 2pm
Weight: 35%
Assessment description
Putting on your public health social scientist ‘hat’ you will perform a fieldwork activity in which you will
undertake a small ethnographic observational walk reflecting on the social, cultural and environmental
determinants of health in place. The use of walking and observing the determinants of health in local settings,
in association with other methods such as using audit tools of neighbourhood health determinants are useful
‘tools’ of public health research. This walking activity will develop students’ skills in thinking critically and
eflectively. Learning about the environment we live in is a core and transfe
able MPH skill.
To complete the field work activity you are expected to complete the steps below:
1) Choose a community/subu
an location;
2) Develop a socio-demographic profile of your chosen location;
3) Take an observational walk around your chosen location exploring and reflecting on the social,
cultural and environmental determinants of health; As you take your walk please use the socio-
demographic profile to contextualise your observations and to help you think carefully about what
you are observing. How is the data materialised in place? Or does it seem contradictory? What
contribution does the literature add to your understanding of what you are observing?
4) Submit your report, which includes the following: socio-demographic profile, critical analysis of your
observations and reflection on the walking activity in up to 2000 words plus attach at least 1 photo
image of social determinants of health in the locality.
Fieldwork step 1: Choose a location
The first step is to choose and map a location. You can choose any location (i.e., a subu
within Australia or
your home town overseas), but you need to be able to get there! So, as long as you have transport (public or
private) to take you there, you’re free to select any subu
s/location. Think about your choice carefully.
Fieldwork step 2: Develop a socio-demographic profile
Once you have chosen your location you must develop a socio-demographic profile of that locality, that is,
what are the socio-demographic characteristics of this locality? To do this you will need to look to some key
databases (some examples provided below please note this is not an exhaustive list, what else can you find?).
Examples of Sites you can use for Socio-Demographic Information
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Community Profile:
http:
www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/communityprofiles. Through this site you can
access data about specific areas. Once you type in the name of your subu
it will take you to a page that
includes a box “quick stat” on the right hand side – this is the easiest way to get some summary information.
Profile id: http:
profile.id.com.au
isbane?WebID=120. This site includes much of the information you can
access on the ABS site, but you may find some additional information about unemployment rate; labour force
participation; single parent families (with children under 15 years).
http:
www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/communityprofiles
http:
profile.id.com.au
isbane?WebID=120
To provide a good socio-demographic profile of your locality you should consider a range of characteristics,
for example, the size of the population, age distribution, unemployment rates, labour force participation,
size of households, income, available services, transportation, health care services etc. You may also be able
to access information about health in your locality, the database we have provided is linked to
oader areas
(primary health networks) rather than specific subu
s, but you can extrapolate from there. You may find
some better examples, feel free to explore.
Fieldwork step 3: Observational walk and reflection
5) Now that you have developed a profile of your locality it is important to investigate what the locality
actually looks like on the ground. Please refer to the readings and audit tools provided in the
assessment folder on Blackboard. Take an observational walk around the locality (taking notes as you
go about the social determinants of health). Also, reflection on your experience of using the
observational method to examine the social determinants of health and place. You should also draw
on the literature to help you understand what you are observing. Some issues to explore via critical
analysis of your observations and reflection of the activity include:
The physical environment
The social environment
The social practices/ activities of people
The social and health resources in the locality
What the walk made you think/feel about the social determinants of health in that locality
You must also attach at least one photo image of your chosen locality that highlights the social determinants
of health. Below are some dos and don’ts of taking photos. (The list has been drawn from Photovoice
Hamilton (2007, pg 11-12).
Please note: there are no right or wrong ways to do this (aside from not taking photos of people). It is about
your impression of the local resources (i.e. the determinants of health) - these may include buildings or objects
or part of the road, or more sensory things which reflect the quality/safety/health of the environment.
Fieldwork step 4: Submit your Fieldwork Activity Report
Now that you have developed a socio-demographic profile and taken an observational walk around your
locality, you need to compile this into a 2000 word report. Include your socio-demographic profile, critical
analysis of your observations and reflection of the activity and at least one photo image in a report style
document.
My Healthy Communities: http:
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au/. This site provides some health related
information. Click on the My Community tab on the right for health information specific to a local area.
Dos and Don’ts of taking photos
The aim of the observational walk is to explore place – not people. Please do not take photos of people.
Be respectful of the communities you are visiting.
Be prepared. Be ready to explain about the project to community members, if they ask what you are doing.
When can you include a photo of a person - In a public place like a park, you can take someone’s photo without
permission, if they are far away and can’t be recognized in the picture.
Respect the lives and safety of others. When you take photos for your project, think of people’s safety first and
e respectful of peoples’ lives.
Using a camera gives the photographer a lot of power to create a message that is visually loaded with meaning;
within the image is the photographer’s values and message, and those the viewers will take away with them.
Therefore, it’s important to represent the image and the subjects within the image in an accurate way.
http:
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
Your fieldwork activity report, which must include in-text citations and a reference list (your reference list
does not count in your word total) is to be uploaded to the Blackboard site by Monday 23 April 9am. The
submission link can be found in the ‘Assessment 2: Fieldwork Activity’ folder in the ‘Assessment’ tab on your
course BlackBoard site.
Assignment Format Requirements
Please ensure that your assignment complies with the following formatting specifications.
Assessment cover sheet: Please sign and attach the assessment cover sheet (available in the
assessment tab on the course BB site) to the front of your submission. Typing your name in the Cover
Sheet Declaration will suffice as your signature that the work has not been plagiarised.
Writing style: The case study should be written in good academic English and draw on course readings
and additional literature - but you can use the first person singular.
Word limit: As indicated above the case study should be no more than 1500 words. Please note this
does not include the reference list.
Paper Size: Standard A4 (210 x 297mm)
Margins: All margins at least 2.0cm
Font: At least 12 point and Times New Roman or Arial only
Line spacing: 1.5 line spacing
References: Harvard or APA style. Attach references as a separate page at the end of your assignment.
Each week's journal submission must contain appropriate referencing - you must reference all sources
used.
File Name: LastName_PUBH7620 Fieldwork activity
Submission: Via the submission link on the course Blackboard site by 9.00am EST Monday April 23
2018. Late assignments will not be accepted without prior approval.
PUBH7620 assignment two Marking Ru
ic
Criteria
Fail
(<50%)
Pass
(50-64%)
Credit
(65-74%)
Distinction
(75-84%)
High Distinction
(≥85%)
Identification of location
and sociodemographic
profile
Poor identification of
location and
sociodemographic profile.
Crucial omissions in
sociodemographic profile
Sound identification of
location and
sociodemographic profile.
Major omissions in
sociodemographic profile
analysis.
Solid identification of
location and
sociodemographic profile.
Some minor omissions in
sociodemographic profile
analysis.
Good identification of
location and
sociodemographic profile.
Few omissions in
sociodemographic profile
analysis.
Excellent identification of
location and
sociodemographic profile.
All relevant components of
the sociodemographic
profile analysis.
(20%)
Observational walk
Undertaken observational
walk and provided detailed
field notes on the activity
that address core
questions provided in the
assessment description
Poor or no observational
walk provided. Field notes
that address core
questions in the
assessment description
were not provided or were
of poor quality.
Sound observational walk
undertaken. Major
omissions in the activity
field notes that address
core questions provided in
the assessment
description.
Solid observational walk
undertaken. Some minor
omissions in the activity
field notes that address
core questions provided in
the assessment
description.
Good observational walk
undertaken. Few omissions
in the activity field notes
that address core
questions provided in the
assessment description.
Excellent observational
walk undertaken. The field
notes on the activity that
address core questions
provided in the assessment
description are
comprehensive and clear.
(40%)
Critical Reflection on the
walking activity/
observational method as
outlined in assessment
description
No evidence of critical
eflection.
Sound critical reflection
ut difficult to follow and
lacking originality.
Satisfactory critical
eflection but limited
originality.
Good critical reflection but
lacking in