Observe from various angles
Although we tend to be unaware, whenever we are out in the field, we are making sense of what we encounter based on our own interests and assumptions. Identifying the standpoint from which we observe is an important issue in research design. In addition, it is important to carefully consider the focus point to which we try to shed light on within the process of observation.
An issue here is closely related to the standpoint of the researcher, and it may be a good idea to reconsider the fact that an object/event may display various “faces” depending on how we look at it. Supposedly, we rarely encounter an object/event that “looks the same” from any angle.
Go out to the field, and take several pictures:
- First, identify an object/event to focus.
- Then, take a set of photos from various angles, such as, front, rear, left, right, top and bottom.
It may be difficult to take photos, partly due to the physical condition of the site. However, this practice offers an opportunity to recognize that even with our best effort, what we can observe and record is a limited part of the object/event under study.