The Importance of Curiosity in Field Work

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It seems like the mindset of curiosity is also essential to this, right? You're paying close attention mindfully to what's actually going on. And you have this curious mindset trying to notice what the person's saying, what surprises you and so on. Is that right? Yes, absolutely. And I mean, this goes to field work as well. And I think it's quite amazing how often one doesn't notice things which are significant.

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What is the field of development? What are the differences between rapid and participatory rural appraisal? Under what conditions should qualitative surveys be preferred over quantitative and vice versa? What is participatory mapping? How has the field of development changed over the last few decades? Why do people get taller when sanitation improves?

Robert Chambers is a British academic and development practitioner. He spent his academic career at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. In 2013, he became an honorary fellow of the International Institute of Social Studies. He has been one of the leading advocates for putting the poor, destitute, and marginalized at the center of the processes of development policy since the 1980s. Learn more about him here.

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