Fieldwork

Fieldwork is a form of research. It involves leaving the lab and going out into the world. Fun to leave the lab, but also important. Research must be extended beyond the artifice of the lab. In this sense, fieldwork is pursued seriously and diligently. It follows a determined method and aims to provide fruitful insights. But what if I go out into the field in a less focused way? What if I have no clear plan in mind? What if I pursue a fanciful method or no method at all? What if the possibility that I am engaged in research never crosses my mind? Then what am I doing in the field and what can I discover there? What is the perverse value in not pursuing deliberate research?