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Finding Ramón: Navigating Failure and Luck in Mexico.

Gareth A Jones¹

¹Department of Geography & Environment, The London School of Economics & Political Science, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE UK.

Critical Criminology

|January 1, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

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Research failure is common but often unspoken. This autoethnographic study explores an unsuccessful attempt to reconnect with a former research subject, revealing the unexpected role of luck in ethnographic fieldwork.

Area of Science:

Qualitative Research Methods
Sociology of Youth
Autoethnography

Background:

Failure is a frequently encountered but rarely discussed aspect of ethnographic research.
Autoethnography offers a unique lens for examining personal experiences within research contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

To present an autoethnographic narrative of an unsuccessful attempt to locate a research participant for a longitudinal life history.
To reflect on the concept of failure in fieldwork and its relationship with luck.

Main Methods:

Autoethnographic narrative.
Qualitative longitudinal study (attempted).
Reflexive analysis of research experience.

Main Results:

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The attempt to re-establish contact with the participant, Ramón, after more than a decade proved unsuccessful.
The experience of 'failure' prompted a deeper consideration of the role and significance of luck in ethnographic research.

Conclusions:

Apparent research failures can lead to valuable insights, particularly regarding the unpredictable elements like luck in fieldwork.
Challenging the taboo surrounding research failure can foster more open and productive scholarly dialogue.