Fieldwork. Getting out there. Doing something in-person, not remotely, not via a tool or through a screen. These are the sorts of things that we as researchers tend not to do anymore - and we used to be the great travellers of Digital.

Let me tell you what I didn't sign up for:

- market research
- becoming a tool-based button pressing monkey
- living in a box
- being a product manager's survey administrator

What I did sign up for is:

- human interaction
- understanding behaviour
- observing in different contexts
- using varied methodologies to answer varied research questions

If you think research is just interviews and surveys via a 3rd party tool, then you're not just mistaken, you're flat out wrong

Fieldwork and in-person work are where the researcher really gets to express their value and competence. Just doing surveys and interviews is such a tiny subset of the researcher skillset and the wider world that they don't let you shine as brightly as other methods.

The researcher really shines when conducting fieldwork and/or in-person work. Our varied skillsets all include high level facilitation, either of individuals or groups. Crowd control comes as standard. Fearlessness in a room of angry stakeholders. Grace under pressure.

Why am I saying this? Value and the expression of it is on everyone's minds. It's a big deal and it directly impacts confidence and job security. I've just got back from my first field visit in a LONG time, it must be over a year at least - maybe even pre-pandemic if I think about it. The value is immense, it was a very timely reminder, hence this post.

Moving forwards, if we do everything through these blurry lenses of remote, tools, screens and anything else, we don't get the opportunity to express our true or full value. As with everything, a mix or hybrid approach is needed. Remote only no good, co-located only no good, hybrid...lovely. We need to actively manufacture the co-located stuff because remote is default and easy, but if you want to express value, manufacture the physical.

Happy Monday - find ways to get out there to observe and interact with your audiences and your own value will follow...
#collected