FIELD METHODS

IN PSYCHOLOGY
 WHAT IS FIELD METHODS

• Field Methods (formerly Cultural

Anthropology Methods) publishes articles
about methods used by field investigators from
the social and behavioral sciences in the
collection, management, analysis and
presentation of data about human thought
and/or human behavior in the natural world.
The data can be qualitative or quantitative, as
can the methods for analysis and presentation.
FIELD METHODS/RESEARCH
• Refers to scientific and systematic for a particular
information/data on specific problem or ideas
both social and natural science
• Is the science of collecting observing, selecting,
evaluating and presenting(reporting) of particular
information
• Is the care full and systematic investigation of
new fact/ideas of any information
 GEOGRAPHICAL FILED
METHODS
• Process of seeking, observing,
investigating or experimenting a
problem of geographical nature on a
field.
 ROLE OF RESEARCH
• In psychology, research plays an essential part in
understanding human behaviour, and in the
assessment, diagnosis and treatment of
psychological disorders.
• As a science, the body of knowledge under the
heading ‘psychology’ concerns our knowledge of
human behaviour that has been acquired through
scientific research
 Types of Research
• Applied research/action research
• Basic research or pure research
• Quantitative research
• Qualitative research
• Analytical research
• Conceptual research
• Empirical research
 Applied research
• This is the type of research that arrived at
findings the solution of immediate problem that
face the society industry or business. The central
aim at applied research is to discover solution to
some particular problems
• It is research that is direct and immediate relevance to
decision making problems that seems to be as
important and need to solved for the benefits of the
people concerned.
Fundamental/Basic Research

• It mainly concern with scientific discovery.

It is a type of research carried out for the
sake of generating knowledge. It is mainly
concerned with generating and formulation
of theories and therefore it does not intend
to solve any immediate problem.
 Quantitative Research

• This is the information or data, which

explain distribution of phenomena in
quantity form. It is mainly deals with
quantitative values ( it deals with numerical
form)
 Qualitative Research
• It is based on the one which explains the data in
descriptive manner. It mainly deals with quality than
quantity sometimes known as descriptive research.
 Analytical Research

• This is the type at research which use facts

or information already available and
analyze them to make a critical evaluation
of material
 Conceptual Research
• Is the type of research that related with abstract
ideas or theory
• It is most applicable on invisible world
• Concern with phenomena that can not be seen,
touched, heard e.g moral, behavior, traditional
believes
 Empirical Research
• Is the type of research that depends on the
experience or it is data based and capable at be
verified by observation, measurement and
experiment.
• It is based on the world appearance/visible world
 Methods in Field Research
• 1. Direct Observation
• In this method of research, the researcher watches and records the
activities of groups of people or individuals as they go about their daily
activities. Direct observation can be structured or unstructured.
• Structured here means that the observation takes place using a guide
or process developed before that time.
• Unstructured, on the other hand, means that the researcher
conducted the observation, watching people and events, and taking
notes as events progressed, without the aid of any predetermined
technique.
 DIRECT OBSERVATION
• Some other features of direct observation include the following;
• The observer does not attempt to actively engage the people being observed
in conversations or interviews, rather he or she blends into the crowd and
carries out their observation.
• Data collected include field notes, videos, photographs, rating scales, etc.
• Direct observation most times occurs in the open, usually public settings,
that requires no permission to gain entry. Conducting direct observation in a
private setting would raise ethical concerns.
• The outcome of direct observation is not in any way influenced by the
researcher.
PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION
• 2. Participant Observation
• This research method has an understanding with
a group of individuals, to take part in their daily
routines and their scheduled events. In this case,
the researcher dwells among the group or
community being observed for as long as is
necessary to build trust and evoke acceptance.
PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION
• Data from the participant’s observation take the
following varying forms;
• Field notes are the primary source of data. These
notes are taken during the researcher’s
observations and from the events they
experienced and later developed the notes into
formal field notes.
• A diary is used to record special intimate events
that occur within the setting.
PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION
• The process of participant observation is intent on developing
relationships with the members which breed conversations that are
sometimes formal or informal. Formal here refers to deliberate depth
interviews, while informal could stem from everyday conversations
that give insight into the study.
• Data from these events can be part of the field notes or separate
interview transcripts.
• The method of participant observation aims to make the people
involved comfortable enough to share what they know freely without
any inhibition.
 ETHNOGRAPHY
• 3. Ethnography
• Ethnography is a form of field research that
carries out observation through social research,
social perspective, and the cultural values of a
social setting. In this scenario, the observation is
carried out objectively, hence the researcher may
choose to live within a social environment of a
cultural group and silently observe and record
their daily routines and behavior.
 QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS
• 4. Qualitative Interviews
• Qualitative interviews are a type of field research method
that gets information by asking direct questions from
individuals to gather data on a particular subject. Qualitative
interviews are usually conducted via 3 methods namely;
• Informal Interviews
• Semi Structured Interviews
• Standardized Open ended Interviews
 QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS:
advantages and disadvantages.
• Informal Interviews
• This kind of interview is often conversational and
occurs during participant and direct observations.
• The interview is triggered, most times
spontaneously by conversing with a member of
the group on the areas of interest and as the
conversation progresses, the researcher fluidly
introduces the specific question.
 INFROMAL INTERVIEWS
• Semi-Structured Interviews
• In this scenario, the researcher already has a list of
prepared questions, that are open-ended and can evoke as
much information as possible. The researcher can venture
into other topics as the interview progresses, using a call-
and-response style.
• This method of field research can adopt a mix of one-on-
one interviews or focus groups.
 FORMAL INTERVIEWS
• Standardized, Open-Ended Interviews
• These are scripted interviews with the questions prepped
and written before the interview following a
predetermined order. It is similar to a survey and the
questions are open-ended to gather detailed information
from the respondents and sometimes it involves multiple
interviewers.
 CASE STUDY
• 5. Case Study
• A case study research is a detailed analysis of a person,
situation, or event. This method may seem a bit complex,
however, it is one of the easiest ways of conducting
research. difficult to operate, however, it is one of the
simplest ways of researching as it involves only a detailed
study of an individual or a group of people or events.
Every aspect of the subject life and history is analyzed to
identify patterns and causes of behavior.
 FIELD RESEARCH: PRO’S AND
CON’S
• Advantages of Field Research
• Provide context to the data being analyzed in terms of settings,
interactions, or individuals.
• The source of data does not require or involve verbal interactions, and
there is no intrusion of anyone’s personal, space because everything is
done quietly, from a distance.
• The researcher develops a deep and detailed understanding of a setting
and the members within the setting.
• It is carried out in a real-world and natural environment which eliminates
tampering with variables.
 PRO’S
• The study is conducted in a comfortable environment, hence data can
be gathered even about an ancillary topic, that would have been
undiscovered in other circumstances.
• The researcher’s deep understanding of the research subjects due to
their proximity to them makes the research thorough and precise.
• It helps the researcher to be flexible and respond to individual
differences while capturing emerging information. Allows the
researcher to be responsive to individual differences and to capture
emerging information.
 CON’S
• The researcher might not be able to capture all that is
being said and there is the risk of losing information.
• The quality of the information derived is dependent, on
the researcher’s skills.
• Significant interactions and events may occur when an
observer is not present.
• Some topics cannot easily be interpreted by mere
observation.g., attitudes, emotions, affection).
 CON’S
• The reliability of observations can be complex due to the
presence of multiple observers with different
interpretations.
• It requires a lot of time (and resources)and can take years
to complete.
• The researcher may lose objectivity as they spend more
time among the members of the group.
• It is a subjective and interpretive method that is solely
dependent on the researcher’s ability.
 THEREFORE
• Field research helps researchers to gain firsthand
experience and knowledge about the events, processes,
and people, being studied. No other method provides this
kind of close-up view of the everyday life of people and
events. It is a very detailed method of research and is
excellent for understanding the role of social context in
shaping the lives, perspectives, and experiences of people.
Alongside this, it may uncover aspects of a person that
might never have been discovered.