Dear team,
I hope this message finds you all well and that your fieldwork is going smoothly. I’m writing to you during a transitional period in my fieldwork journey, having recently completed my research in the Netherlands and preparing to head to Denmark in about a month. This in-between moment feels like a valuable pause, offering me the chance to reflect on what I’ve learned so far and consider how to approach the next stage of my research.
Conducting fieldwork in the Netherlands has been a fascinating and, at times, surprising experience. Having lived in this country for some years, I feel quite comfortable here (in some ways, even more so than I do in Pakistan, my home country). Yet, despite this sense of familiarity, the hospital setting where I conducted my research felt distinct and at times “foreign”. My limited Dutch proficiency also contributed to that. While I have spent several hours on Duolingo and managed to pick up a few basic phrases, understanding everyday conversations – particularly rapid exchanges between native Dutch speakers – remained a challenge. This language barrier served as a reminder of my position as both an insider (familiar with the broader cultural context) and an outsider (not understanding the language). Thankfully, though, all of my interlocutors spoke fluent English with me during interviews, and we understood each other perfectly.
One of the more unexpected turns in my research came early on. I had initially planned to focus on how medical staff interacted with a specific algorithm slated for use in the cardiology department. However, as is often the case during fieldwork, things didn’t unfold as expected: the algorithm was never implemented during my time there. This led me to broaden my scope, shifting from studying a single tool to examining a wider range of AI technologies used across the hospital. While this change meant I couldn’t focus as deeply on one particular technology or user group, it opened up new avenues. I had the chance to engage with a variety of healthcare professionals – from medical students to senior department chiefs – each offering a different perspective on how AI intersects with their work. This broader lens not only allowed me to study current applications of AI, but also to explore how healthcare professionals imagine and anticipate AI’s future role in clinical environments.
There were many aspects of this first fieldwork phase that I genuinely enjoyed. Being able to engage in long-form conversations with doctors and nurses about why they do what they do, what they find valuable in their work, and what role they see AI playing within it, was truly insightful. At the same time, the unpredictability of fieldwork – navigating bureaucratic hurdles, grappling with access limitations, and adjusting to changes in research focus – came with its fair share of frustrations. Yet, these challenges also became productive spaces for reflection, pushing me to think more critically about the assumptions I brought into the field.
Looking ahead to Denmark, I’m curious to see how my experiences there will compare. I anticipate that the different national healthcare context and organizational culture will offer fresh insights, both in terms of how AI is implemented and how it’s perceived by healthcare professionals.
Hope to see you all in person soon!
Best,
