Field research is one of the stages of scientific research methodology that corresponds to observation, collection, analysis and interpretation of facts and phenomena that occur within their niches, scenarios and natural environments of experience.
This is an important stage of the research, as it is responsible for extract data and information directly from the reality of the object of study. It also defines the objectives and hypotheses of the research, as well as the best way to collect the necessary data, such as the use of interviews or evaluative questionnaires, which will give answers to the situation or problem addressed in the research.
Usually, field research is carried out after the bibliographic study or literary review in scientific, academic or in course completion papers (TCC). At this stage, the researcher must already have a good knowledge of the subject studied.
In field research, it is up to the researcher to carry out a detailed observation of the object of study and how it behaves in its real environment.
In addition, it must carry out the collection of data referring to the object and, finally, analyze and interpret these data. All this must be based on the theoretical foundation previously made, always seeking to understand and explain the object of study of the research.
Science and social studies fields such as Anthropology, Sociology, Economics and others use field research to study the behavior of individuals, groups, communities, institutions, etc. The proposal is to understand the most different aspects of a given reality.
Field Search Types
According to the object of study and the methodology of data collection applied, field research can be classified as:
exploratory
These are the researches that aim to deepen the researcher's knowledge on the subject studied. It can be used to facilitate the development of a questionnaire or to serve as a basis for future research.
Quantitative-Descriptive
This type of field research aims to check hypotheses, analyze facts, evaluate a subject according to its main variables. It is a survey that uses data collection, such as interviews, forms, questionnaires, etc.
Learn more about descriptive research.
Experimental
Experimental field research aims to put a hypothesis to the test in order to observe its results.
This type of research uses experimental designs that include factors such as control groups, selection of a probabilistic sample and the manipulation of data and variables to control the factors pertinent. It is usually performed in science labs.
Learn more about the meaning of Methodology and see what to write in the methodology.
It is important not to confuse field research with survey surveys, as the latter focuses on gathering statistical data.
How to do field research?
A field study is divided into three basic steps:
- Conduct a bibliographic research that serves as a basis for the topic studied;
- Delimit a group that will serve as a sample for the research;
- Determine the techniques that will be applied to collect research information (questionnaire, observation, interview, etc.);
The proposal is to seek to understand the differences between the opinions or realities of one individual to another within the same group.
Field Search Example
Field research can be applied, for example, to try to understand whether customers of a particular establishment are satisfied with the service provided in a specific sector.
For this, the researcher can produce questionnaires or conduct interviews with some participants to obtain the answers. Finally, and based on information that helps to contextualize the reality of the clients and the establishment, the researcher will be able to identify the positive and negative points of the service.
See also the meaning of others types of research and how to make the methodology for the TCC.
