Homepagehttp://thenomadproject.org/feed.xml2020-03-18T17:26:27.178000ZWerkzeugThe freedom trap: digital nomads and the use of disciplining practices to manage work/leisure boundaries: First formal results publishedhttp://thenomadproject.org/post/the-freedom-trap-digital-nomads-and-the-use-of-disciplining-practices-to-manage-work-leisure-boundaries-first-formal-results-published2020-03-18T17:26:27.178000Z2020-03-18T17:13:31ZDave Cook<div>The first formal results of the 7 years study on remote work and digital nomads has just been published. I have made the article open source so that it can easily be shared and added to. It can be viewed or downloaded here: <a href="https://rdcu.be/b26vi">https://rdcu.be/b26vi</a></div>
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Presentation and Q&A of Digital Nomad Research at Chiang Mai University 15.01.2020http://thenomadproject.org/post/presentation-and-discussion-of-my-latest-research-findings2020-03-18T17:23:00.673000Z2020-01-15T17:54:00ZDave Cook<div>It was an honour to share my latest research findings with the Social Science Faculty at Chiang Mai University. Many Thanks to Aranya Siriphon for organising this. Some people have asked if I could post the talk and Q&A. Here is is below:<br /></div>
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Article published in The Conversation: July 27th 2018http://thenomadproject.org/post/article-published-in-the-conversation-july-27th-20182020-03-18T17:13:07.566000Z2018-07-27T15:05:17ZDave Cook<div><br /></div>
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<div><h1>Digital nomads: what it's really like to work while travelling the world</h1><br /></div>
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<div> She makes it look so easy.</div>
<div> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-beautiful-woman-hipster-traveler-freelancer-678618808?src=v9BGhLr0nfHUCcQ-HV_ILg-8-43">Shutterstock.</a></span></div>
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<div><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dave-cook-507256">Dave Cook</a>, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/ucl-1885">UCL</a></em></span></div>
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<div><p>The phrase "digital nomad" summons the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/11597145/Living-and-working-in-paradise-the-rise-of-the-digital-nomad.html">trope of joyful millennials</a> who escape the daily grind to travel the world, working with laptops on far flung beaches. Bullish statistics are regularly regurgitated: "There will be <a href="https://levels.io/future-of-digital-nomads/">one billion digital nomads</a> by 2035," the headlines declare. </p></div>
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<div><p>As an <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropology">anthropologist</a>, I started researching digital nomadism in 2015. It took me three years to develop an understanding of what might be going on, behind the corporate jargon. I can’t offer hard statistics: until new systems such as <a href="https://e-estonia.com/digital-nomads-visa-shape-urban-employment/">Estonia’s digital nomad visa</a> – an easy route for people to live and work in Estonia for a year – get off the ground, no one can. But I’ve met hundreds of people who think of themselves as digital nomads – and many more who have dreamed about becoming one. </p></div>
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<div><p>The first thing I learned is that how people feel about the label "digital nomad" changes over time. People starting out often assume it’s a permanent lifestyle – but that’s rarely the case. As one participant explained, "I went to a conference, drank the cool aid, went to Thailand. But I don’t go around calling myself a digital nomad now, it’s a bit naff".</p></div>
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<div><p>Indeed, there’s <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21931674.2016.1229930">still debate</a> about whether it’s a buzzword or a bone fide phenomenon. Some have even <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/11745398.2017.1358098">tried to define</a> how "authentic" a digital nomads is, by how much they move from place to place. And online forums such as Reddit play host to <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalnomad/comments/65sxea/whats_the_digital_nomad_population_of_chiang_mai/">heated debates</a> about who’s a real digital nomad, and who is merely "tedious and self-promoting". </p></div>
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<div><h2>Escaping the everyday</h2></div>
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<div><p>Most of the digital nomads I spoke to, who once had static jobs, told me that they were escaping from deeply rooted problems in the contemporary Western workplace. A common trigger is economic: one of my respondents, Zeb, was working three restaurant jobs to make the rent in San Francisco. The city sucked up all his time and money. This scuppered his plans to sell recycled products online. Swapping expensive California for affordable South-East Asia helped Zeb to launch his own business. </p></div>
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<div><p>Even more common are objections to bad work cultures. Lissette, a skilled translator from Hamburg, Germany is able to produce high quality work quickly. She soon tired of the culture of subtle bullying and presenteeism at her workplace. She explained, "I’m efficient, I like to get the work done and leave on time. Other staff were obviously scared to leave first, so would sit at their desks on Facebook". </p></div>
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<div> <span class="caption">The daily grind.</span></div>
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<div><p>Activist and anthropologist David Graeber uses the phrase "<a href="http://strikemag.org/bullshit-jobs/">bullshit jobs</a>" to refer to pointless work: apt, given that <a href="https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/08/12/british-jobs-meaningless/">nearly 40% British adults</a> believe their jobs are meaningless. This could be expanded to include <a href="https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/media/press-releases/up-to-a-third-of-millennials-face-renting-from-cradle-to-grave/">bullshit housing</a> (poor quality and too expensive), or bullshit economies, which <a href="https://theconversation.com/young-people-are-leading-a-growing-movement-against-low-pay-and-precarious-work-97202">don’t provide young people</a> with wages they can live on. Faced with these challenges, it’s hardly surprising that those new to the world of work are already desperate to escape. </p></div>
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<div><h2>CEO of Me Inc.</h2></div>
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<div><p>Yet there are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/18/digital-nomad-homeless-tech-work">certain complexities</a> that come with living as a citizen of the world. As Lissette said, "digital nomads can quickly become isolated or unaccountable". </p></div>
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<div><p>Digital nomads have to shoulder responsibility for almost every aspect of modern life: their <a href="https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html">mental health, daily routine, income, safety and shelter</a>. Most digital nomads travel on tourist visas, which require them to up sticks and move regularly – an experience my participants have described as disorienting. </p></div>
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<div><p>On top of all this, many digital nomads run their own businesses, and face pressure to develop distinctive personal brands. They often can’t attend in-person meetings or pitches, so they need an online marketing strategy that will get them noticed and win clients. </p></div>
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<div><p>Workers are forced to think of themselves as the "<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/28905/brand-called-you">CEO of Me Inc.</a>": this means having a unique brand, a marketing strategy and sales skills. They often have to do their own graphic design, copywriting and web design as well. Anthropologist Iliana Gershon has explored <a href="https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/plar.12075">personal branding in Silicon Valley</a>, and found that many workers there need such skills just to get a job in a traditional office. So digital nomads are taking this trend to a new extreme. </p></div>
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<div><h2>Are you happy?</h2></div>
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<div><p>For those digital nomads who make a living as professional bloggers, it’s also part of their job to sell the lifestyle. As a result, many try and project a stable, and happy image online. Lissette explained: "There’s a danger, that when my aunt looks at Instagram, she sees that everything looks so happy here on the beach. Of course, my digital identity always looks happier than my life is." </p></div>
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<div><p>But at some point, most of my research participants have lamented the loss of some aspect of location dependence, a chat over a water cooler, regular work hours, an office party. They miss some of the things they are escaping. </p></div>
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<div> <span class="caption">Lost at sea.</span></div>
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<div><p>It’s hardly surprising that blogs and articles aimed at digital nomads obsess over the recurring themes of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaviguppta/2015/02/25/digital-nomads-are-redefining-what-it-means-to-be-productive/#3be18c423689">productivity</a>, <a href="http://www.makingitanywhere.com/digital-nomad-skills/">resilience</a>, positive thinking, focus and mindfulness. But the flipside to all this relentless positivity is <a href="https://hackernoon.com/i-went-full-nomad-and-it-almost-broke-me-2a02c5e8f138">burnout</a>. As one participant told me, "it’s all too easy to lose yourself in a sea of choices". </p></div>
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<div><p>As social entrepreneur <a href="https://hackernoon.com/i-went-full-nomad-and-it-almost-broke-me-2a02c5e8f138">Sam Applebee</a> explains, burnout creeps up on people slowly, while "your self-awareness and the ability to save yourself erodes". Many nomads I’ve interviewed just pack up and go home without telling anyone. Others pop home because they had too much stuff stored with friends and family, fully intending to go back out on the road – but never do. </p></div>
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<div><p>Digital nomadism can be rewarding, and offers an escape from the drudgery of office life. But it’s important that aspiring digital nomads read up and think deeply about the importance of community and mental health in their lives. Freedom does not mean the same thing for everyone. </p></div>
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<div><p><em>Names of participants have been changed to protect their anonymity.</em></p></div>
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<div><p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dave-cook-507256">Dave Cook</a>, PhD Researcher, Anthropology, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/ucl-1885">UCL</a></em></span></p></div>
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<div><p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/digital-nomads-what-its-really-like-to-work-while-travelling-the-world-99345">original article</a>.</p></div>
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Project Updatehttp://thenomadproject.org/post/project-update2020-03-18T17:13:06.465000Z2017-10-14T12:34:10ZDave Cook<div>I completed my MSc dissertation: I Choose Freedom: Digital Nomads and Imagined Worlds of Work in September 2017.</div>
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<div>I will share the dissertation in a series of blog posts on this website over the coming months. Some of these will also be posted on Medium and The Conversation. If anyone involved in the research would like to read a copy of the research please get in touch.</div>
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<div>The MSc dissertation was a pilot study for my PhD research into Digital Nomadism. I am conducted my PhD at UCL (University College London). During the PhD I will be looking to expand the number of research sites, and the research will continue for at least four more years enabling me to research and understand digital nomadism over a significant time period.</div>
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<div>If you are an academic wanting to discuss research on this topic, a digital nomad interested in talking to me about their experiences, a journal or website interested in insights that go deeper than<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>‘the laptop in hammock trope<span style="font-style: italic;">’</span>, please get in touch. See below.</div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you are interested in learning more about this research or would like to share some of your digital nomads stories please get in touch. </span></div>
<div><br/></div><h2><span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Twitter: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">@</a><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">iamdavecook</a></h2><div><span style="text-indent: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Email: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="mailto:david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk">david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk</a></div>
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DNX Conference Bangkok: some initial thoughts.http://thenomadproject.org/post/dnx-conference-bangkok-some-initial-thoughts2020-03-18T17:13:25.257000Z2016-02-29T14:11:32ZDave Cook<div>I've just attended the DNX (digital nomad) conference. It attracted hundreds of digital nomads <span style="font-style: italic;">and aspiring nomads</span> all packed into the Lido Cinema, Bangkok for a full schedule of talks and presentations.</div>
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<div>The strap-line for the conference was ‘I Choose Freedom’ and the presentations covered a range of topics from the practical use of tools to enable nomads to run successful businesses on the road to personal inspirational stories.</div>
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<div>As an academic conducting research in this area, I was asked the <span style="font-style: italic;">‘what is a digital nomad?’</span> question quite a few times. I wasn’t sure what the term precisely meant before I came to the conference and it’s still too early in the research process for me to have any meaningful insight. Watch this space!</div>
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<div>I can report that the people I encountered were an interesting and diverse bunch. I met:</div>
<div><br/></div><ul><li>Freelance IT specialists/app developers/consultants</li><li>Entrepreneurs creating start-ups from co-working spaces</li><li>Travel bloggers</li><li>Backpacking video bloggers</li><li>An expat living in Asia who trains wedding MCs</li><li>Fundraising adventurers with amazing stories to share</li><li>Life coaches</li><li>and best of all a reviewer of beaches and a travelling piano player</li></ul><div><br/></div>
<div>Although I don’t have any deep insights to share at this stage. Nor should I because the trip was more about networking and looking for people to join the study. Some key themes from the day did jump out.</div>
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<div>Freedom came top of the list. Closely followed by: overcoming fear, work life balance, self-motivation, productivity, the power of positive thinking and the importance of connecting with nature. The contrasting themes of individuality and community were also raised. </div>
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<div>Steve Munroe cofounder of Hubud, a co-working space in Bali, posed the question: what responsibilities do digital nomads have to local communities? He argued that if ‘digital nomads’ in his co-working space don’t engage locally, then Hubud would be "just be another serviced office."</div>
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<div>It was nice to see speakers like Steve reflect so deeply about the impact of his own nomadism. He shared an infographic (pictured below) showing varying degrees of cultural immersion in the countries he’s lived in. It was a refreshingly frank and rather anthropological moment.</div>
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<div>Then there were the superhuman stories of Dave Cornthwaithe. A man who has redefined what it means to be a ‘yes man’. ’The last time he said no, was to his boss as he walked from his ‘devastatingly boring’ graphic design job and started to say yes to almost any challenge. So far he’s skateboarded across Australia and swam the Missouri river, amongst many other challenges. If that sounds a little unattainable there were specific masterclasses into setting up an educational video business.</div>
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<div>Natalie Sisson, the suitcase entrepreneur educated us on how to streamline our lives and time with an impressive laundry list of productivity tools, and her preplanned yearly calendar was a sight to behold. I thought my Google Calendar was packed. I need to up my game!</div>
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<div>To end the proceedings, Fabian Dittrich shared an anecdote about the terrible advice given to him by his school’s careers adviser. The advice went something along the lines of "become and stay an adjusted citizen." </div>
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<div>Naturally he ignored this advice and his stories about escaping the rat race to sing and play guitar as he drove across Africa were both heartening and inspirational. But his most important words were: "if we engage with the world and the people in it, the world becomes infinitely less dangerous" and infinity more rewarding!</div>
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<div>As the old saying goes: there is nothing to fear but fear itself. </div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you are interested in learning more about this research or would like to share some of your digital nomads stories please get in touch. </span></div>
<div><br/></div><h2><span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Twitter: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">@</a><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">iamdavecook</a></h2><div><span style="text-indent: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Email: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="mailto:david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk">david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk</a></div>
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Informed Consent: what is it and why its important if you wish to get involved with this study.http://thenomadproject.org/post/informed-consent-what-is-it-and-why-its-important-if-you-wish-to-get-involved-with-this-study2020-03-18T17:13:27.353000Z2016-02-29T11:28:14ZDave Cook<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold;">Informed Consent</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Informed consent is a core practice, value and responsibility for all anthropologists conducting research and fieldwork.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Simply put it means: a clear explanation of the research is given to all potential research participants. The research must explain what the research is, what is involved, and what potential impacts could be.*</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold;">Getting involved with this study</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you are interested in being part of this study I will discuss informed consent with you. Informed consent will be used for all participants. What the research is about and the methodology of the research will be clearly explained. Participants will be given an optional consent form to read and sign. In cases where participants do not wish, or need to sign a consent form oral consent may be given.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold;">Anonymity and p</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">seudonymity</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">All participants will be offered the choice to be anonymous and p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">seudonyms can be used if requested.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> The difference between anonymity and p</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">seudonymity will be explained. They are not the same. Unless a </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">participant tell me otherwise. I will assume that you wish to remain anonymous.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold;">Reviewing consent, anonymity and p</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">seudonymity</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Consent,</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> anonymity and p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">seudonymity with be regularly reviewed for participant</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">s involved in the research for longer periods of time. </span></div>
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<div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">It is always acknowledged that consent is an on-going process of understanding and learning for participants. I understand that</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> informed consent can happen overtime and people often wish to change their mind. I will periodically explain and review the research methods, and will share the outputs of the research. For example if participants give consent for their photograph to be taken, whenever practically possible the photographs will be shared with the person photographed. This is useful for both research practice and understanding the process of on-going consent. If you require a consent form, email me: <a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="mailto:david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk">david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk</a>. </span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">There may be occasions where group activities might happen (for example a new business ideas workshop). In this scenario I will inform participants of my presence and the purpose of the research, and give participants the change to review any material before it is published.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold;">Photography and Film</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">I may use photography (and perhaps film) as a data collection methods. However I am aware that it is not only images of people and their faces that might identify them. Context, personal belonging, text in photographs can all lead to a person being identified. As a result I will not use photography for any participants who request anonymity. With participants who want to be named, photography will be shared and review, and consent revisited.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold;">Data Protection</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Both myself and UCL take data protection very seriously. Notes taken on paper will be digitally transcribed and stored securely. Digital text files, photos, video that are stored on my laptop (MacBook) will be encrypted with FireVault. My machine is set to log out after 1 minutes inactivity, or if the laptop is shut. If will back up on encrypted USB sticks.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: bold;">According to the ASA (Association of Social Anthropologists)</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Negotiating consent entails communicating information likely to be material to a person's willingness to participate, such as: the purpose(s) of the study and the anticipated consequences of the research; the identity of funders and sponsors; the anticipated uses of the data; possible benefits of the study and harm or discomfort that might affect participants; issues relating to data storage and security; and including limits to the degree of anonymity and confidentiality which may be afforded to informants and subjects. These can be communicated verbally, particularly to those participants with whom the anthropologist has close and continuing relations.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you are interested in learning more about this research or would like to share some of your digital nomads stories please get in touch. </span></div>
<div><br/></div><h2><span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: normal;">Twitter: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: normal;" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">@</a><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-weight: normal;" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">iamdavecook</a></h2><div><span style="text-indent: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Email: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="mailto:david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk">david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk</a></div>
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What is Ethnography and Participant Observation…and what is involvedhttp://thenomadproject.org/post/what-is-ethnography-and-participant-observation-and-what-is-involved2020-03-18T17:13:29.074000Z2016-02-29T09:49:58ZDave Cook<div><font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Helvetica Neue">Ethnography is a research methodology and participant observation is a specific research technique. Many anthropologists consider ethnography and participant observation as central to anthropology. So what do each of these terms mean?</font></div>
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<div><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: bold;"><font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Helvetica Neue">Ethnography</font></span></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Helvetica Neue"><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">The term ethnography stems for the Greek words </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">ethnos</span><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"> (people or nation) and</span> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">grapho</span><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;"> (writing). A contemporary definition is the detailed study of humans and cultures. E</span><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">thnography</span> <span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">is similar to qualitative research but it is generally more involved and conducted over a much longer period of time than commercial qualitative research. Ethnography can include a variety of research techniques such as interviews, discussions, and observations of behaviour. However ethnography is only the beginning of the story and anthropologists regard participant observation as the most</span> important <span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">ethnographic </span><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">research technique. So what is participant observation? </span></font></div>
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<div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Helvetica Neue">Participant Observation </font></span></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Helvetica Neue">Participant observation requires that the anthropologist rolls up their sleeves and participates as well observing. I particularly like participant observation because it breaks down the walls between the research and the research subject. Personally I find research where the observer watches (and doesn’t interact with the people being researched) the participant is observed, unnecessarily distant, cold and slightly creepy. </font></div>
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<div><font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Helvetica Neue">This immersive research method and was pioneered by anthropologists in the early 20th Century such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronis%C5%82aw_Malinowski">Bronislaw Malinowsk</a>i. It a long story but he spend much of the First World War living with Pacific Islanders. He work simultaneously significant and problematic. if you are interested in learning a but more you can read more about him <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronis%C5%82aw_Malinowski">here</a>.</font></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">I am looking for open and communicative folk who are interesting in getting involved. Although this project will kick off with some interviews and questionnaires. I will be looking for participants who are interested in keeping in touch over a longer period of time.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">That said I am realistic about the amount of time people might have to give and am happy to discuss what would work for you.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me and I can talk you through what would be involved. You can email me at:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you are interested in learning more about this research or would like to share some of your digital nomads stories please get in touch. </span></div>
<div><br/></div><h2><span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Twitter: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">@</a><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">iamdavecook</a></h2><div><span style="text-indent: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Email: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="mailto:david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk">david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk</a></div>
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Research Locations for Ethnographic Fieldworkhttp://thenomadproject.org/post/research-locations-for-ethnographic-fieldwork2020-03-18T17:13:33.759000Z2016-02-29T09:35:40ZDave Cook<div><br/></div>
<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">How location independent is this research?</span></div>
<div>The mobile nature of digital nomadism means that I will be conducting research with nomads in a range of locations. As a result my research field site may also be mobile which for some ’traditional’ anthropologists is problematic and dangerous. I don’t agree with this ‘traditional’ prejudice. Whilst I can see the value of conducting in depth research in a single location, I also believe that in a global digitally connected mobile world, anthropologists need to respond accordingly. </div>
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<div>However to engage in detailed ethnographic research and <a href="http://thenomadproject.org/post/what-is-ethnography-and-participant-observation-and-what-is-involved">participant observation</a> (the key methodological tools used by anthropologists) I will need to spend time specific locations and cowering spaces. If you run a co-working space and would be happy for me to conduct some research in you location please get in touch. </div>
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<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Research locations are likely to include:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bali.</span> There is a significant digital nomad/co-working presence here and I have visited on several occasions. If you are attempting to be a digital nomad in Bali (or have been) and would like to be involved please get in touch.<br/></div>
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<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Koh Phangan.</span> If you are living and working here for part of the year, I would be interested in hearing from you.</div>
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<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bangkok.</span> Even though you will just be one of many millions of workers in Bangkok there are several co-working spaces here. And I am interested to understand how digital nomadism might be playing out in such a large global city.</div>
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<div><b>Chiang Mai.</b> Many digital nomads tell me that Chiang Man is ’the centre of the digital nomads world.’ As a result this is a key research location for me. One of the most interesting aspects about Chiang Mai is that some people stick around for quite a long time and put roots down. Not everyone stays a digital nomad forever and I’m interested in why and how this happens. </div>
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<div><b>Getting involved, a note on consent and anonymity. </b>I frequently mention his as a topic. By way of reassurance I want to stress that whether you are an individual or a business I will always assume you want to be anonymous unless you tell me otherwise. As a result some of the research that I have done in less populated locations are not named.</div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you are interested in learning more about this research or would like to share some of your digital nomads stories please get in touch. </span></div>
<div><br/></div><h2><span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Twitter: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">@</a><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">iamdavecook</a></h2><div><span style="text-indent: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Email: </span><a style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="mailto:david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk">david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk</a></div>
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MSc Research Proposalhttp://thenomadproject.org/post/msc-research-proposal2020-03-18T17:13:31.548000Z2016-02-29T09:15:25ZDave Cook<div><div style="mso-hyphenate:none;tab-stops:0cm;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Digital Nomads:</span> Emerging cultures of work, technology and place.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div>
<div style="mso-hyphenate:none;tab-stops:0cm;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Researcher:</span> David Cook</span></div>
<div style="mso-hyphenate:none;tab-stops:0cm;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Supervisor:</span> Hannah Knox</span></div>
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<div style="mso-hyphenate:none;tab-stops:0cm;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">Research Synopsis:</span></span></div>
<div style="mso-hyphenate:none;tab-stops:0cm;">Since the birth of the Internet there have been ongoing discourses about how digital technologies might impact and challenge traditional western concepts of home and work. This research focuses on an emerging category of people who are calling themselves: digital nomads. It aims to consider why some choose to embrace location-independent lifestyles and what happens when they attempt to become a digital nomad.</div>
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<div style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">I am also interested in exploring what digital nomadism might tell us about culture and society, particularly what is happening to the post industrial office. The research topics and questions are constantly evolving but at this stage include:</div>
<div style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><br/></div><ol><li>Investigating the work practices of nomads</li><li>Exploring concept of home for nomads</li><li>Motivations for following a location independent lifestyle?</li><li>Why is the category nomad and digital nomad, emerging now?</li><li>What can digital nomads tell us about western concepts of the home and work?</li><li>How new is this phenomenon anyway. What do modern forms of nomadism have in common with more established and historical forms of nomadism?</li><li>To what extent is digital an enabling factor?</li></ol><div><br/></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you are interested in learning more about this research or would like to share some of your digital nomads stories please get in touch. </span></div>
<div><br/></div><h2><font style="font-weight: normal;" face="Helvetica Neue"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Twitter: </span><a style="font-size: 14px;" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">@</a><a style="font-size: 14px;" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">iamdavecook</a></font></h2><div><font face="Helvetica Neue"><span style="text-indent: 0px; font-size: 14px;">Email: </span><a style="font-size: 14px;" href="mailto:david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk">david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk</a></font></div>
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About this Researchhttp://thenomadproject.org/post/about-this-research2020-03-18T17:13:31.069000Z2015-12-12T19:34:00ZDave Cook<div><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal;">My name is Dave Cook. I’m an</span><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> anthropologist conducting postgraduate research at UCL (University College London).</span></div>
<div style="letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><div><br/></div></div><div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">This research study formally started in December 2015 and initially ran until September 2017. (Update: I am now continuing this research as a doctoral researcher at UCL)</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">The initital focus of the study was to study the digital nomad phenomenon, try and understand what digital nomadism is, explore what social conditions prompted the rise to this category and to start thinking through some of the potential cultural impacts.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">If you are interested in learning more about this research or would like to share some of your digital nomads stories please get in touch. </span></div>
<div><br/></div><h2><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Twitter: </span><a style="font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">@</a><a style="font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="https://twitter.com/iamdavecook">iamdavecook</a></h2><div><span style="font-size: 18px; text-indent: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Email: </span><a style="font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';" href="mailto:david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk">david.cook.15@ucl.ac.uk</a></div>