1, 0, 100Thousand

Taking field notes is the bread and butter of good research. This is a field note technique to reflect on the different masks we wear in our interactions. You’ll write letters to friends, family and colleagues as a way to reflect over the research experience through different voices.

Written by

Gioel Gioacchino

Edited by

Denisse Albornoz

Developed by

Our Experience Using this Technique

The name ‘One, No One and One Hundred Thousand’ is inspired by a famous italian novel in which a character becomes aware that there are many versions of himself, and has a sort of existential freakout. Gioel is experimenting with it as a PhD field note technique.

Research and Development

What are we trying to understand about the community?

With this technique you are trying to reflect about your role and positionality in the research process. How do I see the world? How do I perceive the experiences I am having?

Why is it important for the community’s development?

This exercise reminds you that there is not one single reality.

At what stage(s) of the research cycle is this method used?

Data Collection, Data Analysis

Step by Step

What do I need?

Some time, pen and paper. Or a keyboard. Inspiration. And a friend to write to.

How long does it take?

Block at least one hour for writing. Take another 30 minute to review and edit.

Think of a friend, family member, colleague or co-participant

Write a line or two about who they are. (e.g. Laura is 30 and she is British. She works at Youth Business International in London. We are colleagues, but we also became good friends in the process.)

Write your letter

Make sure to write down the date, time, and place of the story you are about to tell .

Be specific about the facts, numbers, and details of what happens in your story

Write about your sensory experience (What did you see, hear, feel, smell, taste?)

Comment on your perception, keeping in mind your are writing to your friend - as a target audience.

Benefits and Challenges

What are the benefits of using this technique?

It allows you to keep good ethnographic notes
It will help you reflect over cultural differences
It pushes you to reflect on how your experience would be perceived by different people – it expands the way you understand your experience
It makes you reflect on what you have seen and experienced – it adds meaning to it, while making you realize that the meaning you assign to a situation and experience is relative
It makes you reflect over ethical dilemmas in the field.

What are the challenges of using this technique?

For it to be useful, it should be done regularly. If you systematically write letters, you can use the material of the letters as data.

Adaptability

This reflection can help you think of an ethical situation with different eyes, and different perspectives. Why was it ethically challenging? What are you thinking of doing?

Try to write the letter as soon as you are done with an experience. You will forget lots of important details if you don’t write them right away! If you cannot write the letter right away, jotting down brief words or phrases while at the field site will help you remember more details.

Pick 3 people that you respect, ideally from diverse background in terms of age, gender, origin, etc).

Notice the different tone and language you use to share the story. How do you expect them to respond to the situation?

This reflection should help you think of the ethical situation with different eyes, and different perspectives. Why was it ethically challenging? What are you thinking of doing?

Recrear goes grassroots all the way.

That’s why we need your help to meet our basic operational costs and to support our growing pool of volunteers around the world. Thanks for your support.

Fear in a Balloon

Visualizing Success and Failure

Coding in Movement

The personal map of my neighbourhood

Using movement as data

Embodying complexity