ABSTRACT
PART ONE: HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND The classic field study can be more or less equated with ethnography : the study of a group or society that focuses upon the point of view of the people being studied. This type of research typically tries to present a complete description of the people’s attitudes and relationships, in their own words, to the maximum degree possible. Because most field researchers try to gain a sympathetic understanding of the viewpoint of their subjects, they have usually relied more upon rich descriptions than upon a quantitative (e.g. statistical) analysis. As a result, field study methodology is also closely intertwined with qualitative analysis, and much of the literature on field study methodology can be found in books and journals focusing upon qualitative analysis.
