ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the details of using field notes and recordings from observation. In the salience hierarchy strategy, it is the salience of each particular observation that brings it into the field notes. The use of audio recordings during observation is less common than the use of video, but may be suitable in meetings, for instance. The wondering observation is another variant of the interpreting observation, in which the observer may suggest contextual or historical factors for the actions of the subjects observed. Using video or audio recordings can easily make researchers feel like they are intruding greatly on other people's territory, but frequently this is more of an initial problem than a lasting tendency. The use of video enables collaborative analytical work in a way completely different from the traditional use of handwritten field notes.
