Practice

One of the most feared actions for any researcher is, as we colloquially say, getting down to business. For those who think that designing a research project is laborious, practice challenges our limits, especially in qualitative research.

Fieldwork is likened to a walk in a dense forest. If we don’t know the route at all, we will get completely lost. But in addition to the knowledge of the path, we have to master skills that are not necessarily natural for those who are used to diving into books. We need to develop an environmental sensitivity that is rare these days, where we are all short-sighted and clinging to technology.

Building theories through practice is exposing yourself. Tearing our minds apart in search of hidden meanings in the words and emotions of others is tiring, but it transforms us in the process. We become theorists of ourselves, and our reasoning is expanded to serve others.

My research is qualitative, which means that instead of looking for evidence through numbers and equations, I look for a depth that is buried in human processes and decisions. Through the words of others, I seek a common voice to explain society’s choices, and, like an artisan, draw a path of possibilities for understanding.

Armed with a tape recorder a notepad, my mind and ears tuned to speak with theories, I begin an adventure that will define my routine for the next year.

The person who entered the forest will not be the same person who returns, nor will the path be the same. Wish me luck, and let there be light.

Stefânea.