FIELD REPORTS

Writing field reports

Field reports are set as assignments in a variety of disciplines and
usually require the student to combine theory and analysis with observation
and practice.
Although the subject matter of all these kinds of field reports will vary
considerably, there are similarities in them as they require both Description of
an observed person, place or event and an analysis of what was observed.
This type of report is intended to improve student understanding of
key theoretical concepts of a course through observation of and reflection
about real life practice.
In addition, this type of report facilitates the development of data
collection and observation skills and allows students to see how theory
applies to real world practice. the function of field reports is to Describe an
observed person, place or event and to analyse that observation
HOW TO BEGIN?

•FIELD REPORTS- are often assigned in

disciplines of the applied social sciences,
social work, anthropology, criminal
justice, education, law etc. where it is
important to build a bridge of relevancy
between the theoretical concepts
learned in the classroom and the
practice of actually doing the work you
are being taught to do.
FIELD REPORTS
• Are common in certain science disciplines but
these reports are organized differently and serve a
different purpose than what is described.
• It facilitate the development of data collection
techniques and observation skills and they help
you to understand how theory applies o real
world situations.
• Also an opportunity to obtain evidence through
methods of observing professional practice that
contribute to or challenge existing theories.
FIELD REPORTS

•We are all observers of people, their

interactions, places and events;
however your responsibility when
writing a field report is to create a
research study based on data generated
by the act of designing a specific data,
deliberate observation, a synthesis of
key findings and an interpretation of
their meaning.
When writing a field
report you need to:
1.Systematically observe and accurately
record the varying aspects of a situation.
•Always approach your field study with a
detailed plan about what you will
observe, where you should conduct your
observations and the method to collect
and record your data.
2.Continuously analyze your observations.
•Always look for the meaning underlying
the actions you observe. Note that this an
on-going process of reflection and
analysis taking place for the duration of
your field research.
 Keep the report’s aim in mind while you
3.
are observing.
In recording you must be focused and
pay attention to details. Enter the
observation site with a clear plan about
what you are intending to observe and
record being prepared to adapt to
changing environment.
 Consciously observe, record and analyze
4.
what you hear and see in the context of
a theoretical framework.
The theoretical framework guiding you
field research should determine what,
when and how you observe and act as
the foundation from which you interpret
your findings.
TECHNIQUES TO RECORD
OBSERVATION
Note Taking

•This is the most commonly used

and easiest method of recording
your observations.
Photography

It can help capture an important

moment in time as well as
document details about the space
where your observation takes
place. It can also save time for
documenting the details of space
that would otherwise require
extensive note taking.
Audio and Video Recordings

•This can be particularly helpful as you gather

additional information or insights during your
research. These techniques have the negative
effect of increasing how intrusive you are as
an observer and will often not be practical or
even allowed under certain circumstances
and in certain organizational settings.
Illustrations and Drawings

•This does not refer to an artistic endeavor

but, rather, refers to possible need, for
example, to draw a map of the observation
setting or illustrating objects in relation to
people’s behavior.
Generic Format of Field Report
Introductio
n Appendix

Description
of Activities
References

Interpretation
and Analysis

Conclusions and
Recommendation
s
I-Introduction

• It describe the research problem.

• The objectives of the problem.
• You should also include a review of pertinent literature related to the
problem, especially if similar methods were used in prior studies.
• Conclude your introduction with a statement about how the rest of
the paper is organized.
II-Description of Activities
 This is similar to a well written piece of journalism. Five W’s of
Investigative reporting. These are the following:
 WHAT- describe what you observed. Physical and social boundaries
you imposed to limit the observations you made.
 WHEN- record factual data about the day and the beginning and
ending time of observation.
 WHO- note background and demographic information about the
individuals being observed (age, gender, who is doing or saying that)
 WHY- describe the reasons for selecting particular situations to
observe .
III-Interpretation and Analysis
 Always place the analysis and interpretations of your field
observations within the larger context of the theories and issues you
described in the introduction. Analyze the data which observations are
worthy of comment and interpretation, which observations are more
general in nature. It is your theoretical framework that allows you to
make your decisions.
 Interpretations must be based on what you have actually observed. Do
not speculate or manipulate your data to fit into your study’s
theoretical framework.
III-Interpretation and Analysis
Questions you have to consider in analyzing your observations:
 What is the meaning of what you have observed?
 Why do you think what you observed happened? What evidence do
you have for your reasoning?
 Do you see any connections or patterns in what you observed?
 What were the strengths and weaknesses of the observations you
recorded?
 Do you see connections between what you observed and the findings
of similar studies indentified from your review of the literature?
 Have you learned anything from what you have observed?
IV- Conclusions and Recommendations
• It should briefly recap the entire study, reiterating the importance or
significance of your observations. Avoid including any information.
• You should state any recommendations if you have.
• The conclusion should not be more than two or three paragraphs.
V- Appendix
• This is where you would place information that is not essential to
explaining your findings, but that supports your analysis that validates
your conclusions or that contextualizes a related point that helps the
reader understand the overall report.
• Examples: figures/tables/graphs/pictures/maps/drawings or if
applicable transcripts of interview.
VI- References

•List all sources that you consulted and

obtained your information from while
writing your field report. Be sure to write
them in the preferred citation style of
your discipline.
General Considerations
Comprehensible- needs to be understood by a
range of potential audiences-including staff of
other agencies not expert in the subject and
local communities. Use simple, clear language-
avoid highly technical terms & flowery
description.
Comprehensive- must include all the facts and
information of any relevance and include notes
on checks made which did not uncover
irregularities
Concise- It adds clarity. Helps to keep facts or
conclusions in main body, but
calculations/analysis and list of annexes.
examples field report assignments include the following:
• a field report about a practice teaching session
• a field report about a court session observed
• a field report about some historical place or thing observed
• a field report about a work immersion experienced by Grade 12
students
• A field report about the comparison of 2 sections in Grade 7 in terms of
the conduct of lessons, class management, etc.
• A field report about the things students normally do when during
vacant time or no class at all.
 Field Report
Archaeological research on Drayton Island and its environs, near Inukjuak, summer 2007

A team of about twenty people participated in the excavation of an archaeological site on Drayton Island
(IbGk-3), and also carried out a brief archaeological survey of the area. These projects, which were part of
Avataq’s involvement in the International Polar Year (IPY), were initiated by Daniel Gendron and carried out
by Pierre M. Desrosiers and a team composed of Tommy Weetaluktuk (Inuit archaeologist), Sackariassie
Pauloosie (hunter-guide), Allie Nalukturuk (hunter-guide), Annie Kokiapik (cook), Mae Partridge (cook), and
Paulusie Inukpuk and Chris Amgiyou – assistant hunter-guides. Two students from Europe also participated:
Claire Houmard (doctoral student, Université Paris 10, France) and Enrico Foietta (undergraduate student,
Italy). Meanwhile, nine Inuit students did a 4-week apprenticeship in excavation methods including
surveying, technical drawing, using grids and recovering artifacts. The students were Natalie Echalook,
Abraham Kasudluak Mina, Abilie Williams, Magan Kasudluak, Stephan Mina, Tommy Niviaxie, Allie Aculiak,
Moses Idlout and Susie Mina. Some of these students also had the chance to receive some training in
geography from a team of geomorphologists from Université Laval who accompanied our research team.
The Laval group was led by Najat Bhiry and included Anne-Marie Lemieux, Elsa Censig and Bryan
Sinkunas.
Our excavations allowed us to establish a number of facts about the IbGk-3 site. It appears that it was
occupied by the Palaeoeskimos during a period possibly more than 2,500 years ago. About 2,000 years
later, the site was re-occupied by Inuit who built qarmait (semi-subterranean houses) with tunnel entrance.
For the moment, only a small portion of the site has been excavated, but this has already produced some
significant findings. We discovered some wood that had been used to build the roofs of the dwellings, which
is a very rare substance in the eastern Arctic. We have not yet begun the analytical phase of our
research, but we already foresee that these discoveries will lead to a better understanding of the
early construction techniques for dwellings. In addition, our brief archaeological survey led to the
identification of more than forty new sites, mostly on Drayton Island but also on Harrison and Patterson
islands. This serves as an indication of the rich archaeological heritage of the area, especially on the
islands. The sites we discovered included some summer dwellings, secondary structures such as fox traps,
caches and graves, and numerous Palaeoeskimo sites. We also found a number of siltite quarries, (siltite is
a rock that was used for making tools.)
Archaeological Photos