Process / pipelineData collection
Field Notes — Observational Recording in Qualitative Research
Field notes are detailed written records created by researchers during or immediately after direct observation in a naturalistic setting. They capture what is seen, heard, and experienced — including behaviors, interactions, physical environments, and the researcher's own analytic impressions — forming the primary data source for ethnographic and observational studies.
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Sources
- Emerson, R. M., Fretz, R. I., & Shaw, L. L. (1995). Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. University of Chicago Press. ISBN: 978-0226206813
- Lofland, J., Snow, D., Anderson, L., & Lofland, L. H. (2006). Analyzing Social Settings: A Guide to Qualitative Observation and Analysis (4th ed.). Wadsworth. ISBN: 978-0534528713
Related methods
Referenced by
Diary MethodEthnographic ResearchFace-to-face Diary MethodFace-to-face Field NotesFace-to-face Participant ObservationFace-to-face Research DiaryLongitudinal Research DiaryMobile Field NotesMulti-source Field NotesMulti-source Non-participant ObservationNon-participant ObservationOnline Field NotesOnline Research DiaryPilot-tested experiment logPilot-tested field notesResearch DiarySensor Data CollectionTelephone-assisted Field NotesTriangulated Research Diary