In the reading, there are many important examples of fieldwork techniques that Wehle uses. Firstly, there’s observation. Wehle gets right into the smallest detail—the sounds, the movements, the feelings, and even the pauses in the conversation. These aspects help make the scene as clear as if it were reality, as opposed to just telling an account of what happened. Wehle utilizes many aspects of sensory experience, which is an important aspect of fieldwork. This gives the reader an opportunity to not only understand the location, but the reasons why the behaviors are important.

Time is another significant factor that’s involved. So, the scene keeps shifting from one moment to the other, which indicates that space is never permanent. Perhaps it would start off as an empty space, but as people gather, it becomes noisier and busier. This use of time emphasizes the fact that there are always patterns, as people tend to react differently based on the time of the day, the number of people, and the mood that the space carries.

Wehle combines observation and reflective thinking. Rather than merely listing off what happens, she looks for the meaning of the information in the people, situation, and larger context. This observation and reflection combination equals excellent field work.

In my own fieldnotes, I could borrow many of these elements. I could record how the space varied over time, notice the smallest details, and pour in my own interpretations of what such-and-such detail could represent. Following the model of Wehle’s method would allow me to increase the depth and complexity of my own fieldnotes.

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