3. Researcher inference notes
A field researcher listens to members in order to climb into their skin or walk in their shoes. This involves a three step process. She listens without applying her analytical categories; then she applies her own interpretation to infer or figure out what it means. In ordinary interaction we do all three steps simultaneously and jump quickly to our own inferences. A field researcher learns to look and listen without inferring or imposing an interpretation. Her observations without inferences go into direct observation notes.