What is Field research?
'''Field research''' is [[research]] done in [[natural]] surroundings. It is used in [[biology]] to contrast with research done in the [[laboratory]]. Field research is defined as a [[Qualitative analysis|qualitative]] method of data collection that aims to observe, interact and understand people while they are in a [[natural environment]]. For example, nature [[conservationists]] observe behavior of animals in their natural surroundings and the way they react to certain scenarios. In the same way, social scientists conducting field research may conduct interviews or observe people from a distance to understand how they behave in a social environment and how they react to situations around them. Field research encompasses a diverse range of social research methods including direct observation, limited participation, analysis of documents and other information, informal interviews, surveys etc. Although field research is generally characterized as qualitative research, it often involves multiple aspects of quantitative research in it. '''Field research''' typically begins in a specific setting although the end objective of the study is to observe and analyze the specific behavior of a subject in that setting. The cause and effect of a certain behavior, though, is tough to analyze due to presence of multiple variables in a natural environment. Most of the data collection is based not entirely on cause and effect but mostly on correlation. While field research looks for correlation, the small sample size makes it difficult to establish a causal relationship between two or more variables. == Methods of Field research == Field research is typically conducted in 5 distinctive methods. They are: * '''Direct Observation''' In this method, the data is collected via an observational method or subjects in a natural environment. In this method, the behavior or outcome of situation is not interfered in any way by the researcher. The advantage of direct observation is that it offers contextual data on people, situations,