Major advantages and components of field research methods

¶ … components of field research are observations and interviews. Ideally, observations should take place in the natural setting or environment of the subjects that are being observed. Observations are key not only in field research, but also in life. Observing is a greater challenge than most people may think. Even though, to a certain extent, all people are observers, observation for the sake of field research takes training and research. The observer should make use of as many sense as possible when making observations of the subjects. The data should be as complete as possible, meaning, observations for field research can include what is seen with the eyes, heard by the ears, and smelled by the nose. It is possible for observation to include as much sensory information as possible. The observations that the field researcher makes is the source of the data that will be used later on in the study. This is why observation should be complete and the field notes should be as detailed as possible. Direct observation is ideal, but it is not always possible. Direct observations lend themselves to more data, more details, and a more informed context in which the observations will be considered and analyzed. Interviews are essentially series of questions that the field researcher asks the subjects. Interviews are essential to field research because though field observations are very important and very illuminating, they are also limited. Interviews give the subject(s) the chance to contextualize him/herself and the observations in their own words. Interviews are an essential aspect to field research because the researcher is in the process of becoming an expert upon the subject and the subject is already the expert on him/herself. The information provided by the subject to the field researcher proves invaluable for the research/study. Interviews should be conducted with the subjects in a natural setting for the subject whenever possible, and observations should be taken not only of the content of the responses to the interview questions, but also observations of the behavior, tone of voice, and forms of non-verbal communication exhibited by the subject.

One approach to field research is participant observer. This is a data collection method. It is typically used in qualitative research. The goal of the participant observer method is to become very close to a particular group of subjects by means of becoming a part of their community and participating in their cultural practices and traditions. In this situation, the subjects are aware that research is being conducted. The field researcher is more of a participant, than observer, though he/she is both; this is similar to the observer participant approach, but in that case there is more focus upon the observation than the participation. This is more a peripheral role, and the observation may come from participation in a group related to the subject, but directly a part of the group of subjects. One of the extreme in the approaches to field research is the complete observer. As implied, there is no participation with the subjects observed. The field researcher is strictly observing with very limited, restricted interaction with the subjects. The subjects likely are unaware that there is research going on or that there is a field researcher present at all. Another extreme in the approach to field research is that of the complete participant wherein the field research hides the fact he/she is a field research and is conducting research. The field researcher lacks some objectivity, but gains great insight into the subjects' activities. There are different approaches to field research, all with their advantages and limitations. A good field researcher will look into all the options available and assess which methods are most appropriate the particular research endeavor he/she is undertaking.