field observations
Data from outdoors
Field observations are data gathered by watching subjects in their natural environment rather than in controlled settings.
The term belongs primarily to scientific research—biologists making field observations of animal behavior, anthropologists documenting cultural practices, educators noting how students interact in classrooms.
The emphasis on *field* distinguishes this from laboratory or experimental observation: Her field observations contradicted what the models predicted.
- qualitative dataNon-numeric descriptive information
- surveyingMeasuring and charting terrain
- note-takingRecording information while listening
- ecologyStudy of environmental relations
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
sampling · weather conditions · weather permitting · in situ · research site · archaeology · sketches · sociology · environmental science · mapping · naturalist · dawn patrol · audio recording · video recording · wildlife biology · bird watching · photography · meteorology
field observationslaboratory experiments
Controlled scientific investigations indoors
controlled experiments · laboratory research · clinical trials · lab work · laboratory work
field observationscomputer simulations
Digital recreations of systems
literature review · thought experiments · theoretical models · pure theory · mathematical modeling
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