Field-based Deviant Case Sampling — Outlier Cases in Naturalistic Field Research

Field-based deviant case sampling is a purposive strategy that deliberately selects cases deviating markedly from an established pattern or norm, with data collected through direct fieldwork — observation, in-situ interviews, and ethnographic engagement — in the participants' natural settings. By studying outliers on-site, researchers gain contextually grounded insight into why and how certain cases diverge from the typical pattern.