Another cool look at someone's notes! For some reason, this post reminded of something I've long known, that people with ADHD (me! 👋) often leave things in piles because it helps them remember. But, I recently read that some researchers believe that people with ADHD also think in stacks or piles. I happened to be looking through some of my notebooks right after reading that article and I realized I take notes in "piles". I love Noted because it feels like it opens up other people's brains so I can see a little about how they think!
Oh I’m so glad you took a look at Kinsey’s notes. I went to IU to his Institute, decades ago, but with a lot of access and I think the number one thing that hit me was his NOTES, the variety of intensity of his note taking. For some reason they let me touch examine everything — it was a period when they were neglected, the institute. Unforgettable.
When I was in grad school, we had to grab a collection to microfiche and do a report on whatever it contained…I picked one called Little Kinsey, the UKs version of a smaller scale Kinsey study. Absolutely wild thought and responses from the public. I think about it once a week.
Though I can't claim any expertise here, I read about a year ago that subsequent researchers into Kinsey's methods found serious problems with his data collection and analysis. I couldn't find the original article I read, but did locate this citation from the U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/kinsey-sex-and-fraud-indoctrination-people
after the gall wasps he could have just settled on something simple like "size matters" i suppose ha but... his notes during that particularly repressed and even paranoid cultural time frame were no doubt formed around the idea that J.Edgar Hoover's were lurking in the future shadows and his research must have raised some alarms that the idea sex could be more than a means of pro-creation would certainly have raised the hackles of the capitalist captains of industry who relied on repression (of pleasure, freedom, etc.) to sell goods and services as placebos, replacements and no i didn't come up with that idea but i wish i had lol
The use of codes is like shorthand I suppose which, besides the need for confidentiality, makes the note-taking more efficient. Very interesting post, and the comments are also interesting. Thanks, Jillian.
The encoding is fascinating, really interesting post, Jillian — and, as you say, Kinsey and his note and data recording methods are subjects definitely worth exploring.
Very cool. N.b. Galls are not ‘deposited’ by insects, the eggs are laid in the plant whose growth is then manipulated (by dna??) to create an ideal incubator for the egg and food for the grub once it hatches.
Such an interesting deep dive--thank you! I remember when I was in grad school that I worked in the Kinsey archives during a summer workshop in 2017 and I was surprised by how strict the archive was -- we were only allowed to photograph items that had previously been "published." Of course, I understand the impetus to protect the rights of authors, photographers, etc., but it did rub me the wrong way at the time. I'm unsure what their restrictions are now, years later. Regardless, I was pleasantly surprised to see Kinsey's name on your Noted letter today!
Thanks for including the details of all the questions. Some of those are quite eye-opening/eyebrow-raising, especially for the time. Quite clever to encrypt the responses.
Wow, I learned so much from this, Jillian - amazing - but what I loved in particular was your reflections at the beginning of the post on your own note-taking. Fantastic!
Another cool look at someone's notes! For some reason, this post reminded of something I've long known, that people with ADHD (me! 👋) often leave things in piles because it helps them remember. But, I recently read that some researchers believe that people with ADHD also think in stacks or piles. I happened to be looking through some of my notebooks right after reading that article and I realized I take notes in "piles". I love Noted because it feels like it opens up other people's brains so I can see a little about how they think!
Oh I’m so glad you took a look at Kinsey’s notes. I went to IU to his Institute, decades ago, but with a lot of access and I think the number one thing that hit me was his NOTES, the variety of intensity of his note taking. For some reason they let me touch examine everything — it was a period when they were neglected, the institute. Unforgettable.
When I was in grad school, we had to grab a collection to microfiche and do a report on whatever it contained…I picked one called Little Kinsey, the UKs version of a smaller scale Kinsey study. Absolutely wild thought and responses from the public. I think about it once a week.
Though I can't claim any expertise here, I read about a year ago that subsequent researchers into Kinsey's methods found serious problems with his data collection and analysis. I couldn't find the original article I read, but did locate this citation from the U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/kinsey-sex-and-fraud-indoctrination-people
after the gall wasps he could have just settled on something simple like "size matters" i suppose ha but... his notes during that particularly repressed and even paranoid cultural time frame were no doubt formed around the idea that J.Edgar Hoover's were lurking in the future shadows and his research must have raised some alarms that the idea sex could be more than a means of pro-creation would certainly have raised the hackles of the capitalist captains of industry who relied on repression (of pleasure, freedom, etc.) to sell goods and services as placebos, replacements and no i didn't come up with that idea but i wish i had lol
This is fascinating. I've been familiar with Kinsey for a while but had no idea about his data collection process and use of code to maintain privacy.
The use of codes is like shorthand I suppose which, besides the need for confidentiality, makes the note-taking more efficient. Very interesting post, and the comments are also interesting. Thanks, Jillian.
The encoding is fascinating, really interesting post, Jillian — and, as you say, Kinsey and his note and data recording methods are subjects definitely worth exploring.
Very cool. N.b. Galls are not ‘deposited’ by insects, the eggs are laid in the plant whose growth is then manipulated (by dna??) to create an ideal incubator for the egg and food for the grub once it hatches.
Such an interesting deep dive--thank you! I remember when I was in grad school that I worked in the Kinsey archives during a summer workshop in 2017 and I was surprised by how strict the archive was -- we were only allowed to photograph items that had previously been "published." Of course, I understand the impetus to protect the rights of authors, photographers, etc., but it did rub me the wrong way at the time. I'm unsure what their restrictions are now, years later. Regardless, I was pleasantly surprised to see Kinsey's name on your Noted letter today!
Wow, another person I knew little of.
Thanks for including the details of all the questions. Some of those are quite eye-opening/eyebrow-raising, especially for the time. Quite clever to encrypt the responses.
Wow, I learned so much from this, Jillian - amazing - but what I loved in particular was your reflections at the beginning of the post on your own note-taking. Fantastic!
I love this one so much! I didn’t know about the wasps. And I want to crack that code!
So interesting Jillian! But my favorite was the photo of Kinsey taking the history. Not sure why but it really struck me as very funny!
Writing in code, code breakers, code talkers—all of this fascinates the Nancy Drew in me! Well done!
I love how he protected his subject’s answers with his coded language - though I’m so intrigued to understand what each sign signifies!