Field Research and Data Collection Techniques

Field Research

• Field research focuses on observing life in its natural environment.

• It is considered the most appropriate method for obtaining information about physical or social settings, behaviors, or events.

Techniques in Field Research

• Field Observation: Involves direct observation of participants in their natural settings.

• Emphasizes understanding the context and nuances of behaviors and interactions.

Intensive Interviews and Focus Groups

Definition

• Intensive Interviews: Also known as depth or specialized interviews, these involve in-depth questioning of individuals.

• Focus Groups: Guided discussions with a small group to generate insights on specific topics.

Differences from Surveys

• Surveys: Aim to generalize findings to a larger population using structured, standardized questions.

  • Example: Door-to-door surveys aiming to reflect the opinions of an entire neighborhood.

• Intensive Interviews: Focus on the individual’s unique perspectives rather than generalizing about the larger population.

  • Goals are different: intensive interviews seek depth, while surveys seek breadth.

Structure and Approach

• Intensive Interviews: Utilize open-ended and unstructured questions, focusing on creating a comprehensive understanding of the individual being interviewed.

  • Interview guides contain checklists of topics rather than strict schedules.

  • Favors qualitative depth over quantitative breadth.

  • Typically last longer than surveys, often requiring extensive engagement with the interviewee.

• Focus Groups: Combine multiple perspectives to gain insights and test survey questions.

  • Consist of small groups (8-12 participants) discussing topics guided by a facilitator.

Selection of Respondents

• For intensive interviews and focus groups, respondents are typically selected based on their knowledge and relevance to the research question rather than random sampling.

  • Sampling methods include purposeful or judgmental sampling and snowball sampling.

  • Example: Seeking knowledgeable individuals about community history instead of a random selection.

Data Collection Process

• Interviews are adaptive; the interviewer can explore topics as they evolve during the conversation.

• Saturation Point: Marked by when new interviews provide redundant information, indicating sufficient data has been collected.

  • Researchers continue until new insights cease to emerge.