[Sigia-l] smelly contextual inquiries?

[Boniface Lau]

> From: Eric Scheid
>  
> While conducting a contextual inquiry, take note of any items which
> have a scent ... roses on the desk, the curry flavoured food
> containers in the trash, spearmint gum, and so on.
> 
> Then, later, back in the office, you could recreate those smells to
> provoke memories of the visit, 

The fact that you remember having seen those things during the inquiry
can trigger some inquiry memories. But smelling the odors of those
things does not trigger any additional inquiry memories. That is
because seeing is not smelling. During the inquiry, you saw the rose
on the desk but you did not actually smell it.

Even if you had actually smelled that rose, it doesn't necessary mean
you had associated the inquiry details with the fragrance.
Odor-triggered memory tends to be more emotional. When you notice a
familiar odor during an inquiry, you are more likely to associate the
emotional overtone of that odor with the inquiry, instead of
associating that odor with inquiry details.


Boniface