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Field Research

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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

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Synonyms

Fieldwork

Definition

Gathering information by observing individuals in their natural setting.

Introduction

Field research (“fieldwork”) refers to information gathered by observing individuals in their natural setting. Field research can be both qualitative and quantitative in nature. Qualitative research emphasizes the importance of observing variables and their interactions. Quantitative research attempts to objectively gather data to make associations, comparisons, and predictions among variables. Field studies that sought to associate behavior with inter-individual interactions and/or the environment formed the foundation for the field of behavioral ecology (Martin and Bateson 2007).

Field research involves observations of free-living wild animals in their natural habitats while minimizing perturbations or disturbances to their environment or behavior. Field excursions may require some or all of the following (Lagler 1956): funding for travel, salary, supplies, and...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA

    Emily Lescak

Authors
  1. Emily Lescak
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emily Lescak .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA

    Russell Jackson

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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Lescak, E. (2017). Field Research. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2742-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2742-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Field Research
    Published:
    04 September 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2742-2

  2. Original

    Field Research
    Published:
    29 April 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2742-1

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