Researchers and the rural poor: Asking questions in the Third World

This paper discusses the theory and practice of rural socioeconomic surveys in the Third World. It offers a personal commentary on some practical problems and pitfalls that beset the would‐be researcher in making the leap from seminar room to someone else's distant home. It highlights the close links between choice of research topic, field area and research methods, and the importance of the ethics of field research. It considers in particular questionnaire design.