field study: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Academic, Technical, Formal Educational
Quick answer
What does “field study” mean?
A research method involving the collection of data in a natural environment, outside of a laboratory or controlled setting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A research method involving the collection of data in a natural environment, outside of a laboratory or controlled setting.
A practical educational course or project where students learn by directly observing or interacting with a subject in its real-world context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and term are identical in use. 'Fieldwork' is a more common near-synonym in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly associated with disciplines like geography, ecology, anthropology, social sciences, and geology.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK academic contexts as a discrete module title; in the US, 'field research' or 'fieldwork' might be equally common.
Grammar
How to Use “field study” in a Sentence
A field study of [phenomenon/place]A field study on [topic]A field study into [issue]To carry out a field study [in/at location]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “field study” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team will field-study the coastal erosion patterns over the summer.
- He is field-studying primate behaviour in Uganda.
American English
- The researchers plan to field-study the wetland ecosystem. (Note: hyphenated verb form is rare and technical)
adverb
British English
- The data was collected field-study. (Extremely rare/unnatural)
- They worked field-study for weeks. (Unnatural; 'in the field' is used instead)
American English
- (Not used adverbially; 'in the field' is the standard phrasing)
adjective
British English
- The field-study component is mandatory for the degree.
- She handed in her field-study notebook.
American English
- The field-study data revealed new patterns.
- All students must complete a field-study project.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in market research contexts, but 'field trial' or 'market testing' is preferred.
Academic
Primary context. Refers to a core research methodology or a credit-bearing practical module.
Everyday
Limited. Might be used by students or in educational discussions.
Technical
Common in scientific, environmental, and social science reports and methodologies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “field study”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “field study”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “field study”
- Using 'field study' to mean an academic major or a general 'area of study' (which is 'field of study').
- Confusing 'field study' (process) with 'case study' (focused analysis of a single instance).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A field trip is a general educational excursion. A field study is a specific, structured research activity with defined methodological goals, often resulting in a report or data analysis.
Absolutely. 'Field' refers to the natural setting of the subject, not necessarily a rural area. Urban sociology, architectural surveys, and market research all involve field studies in cities.
An experiment actively manipulates variables in a controlled setting to test causality. A field study primarily observes and records phenomena in an uncontrolled, natural setting to describe or understand them.
Not always. While ecological studies might need measuring tools, a sociological field study might rely on a notebook and pen for observations and interviews. The necessity depends entirely on the research aims.
A research method involving the collection of data in a natural environment, outside of a laboratory or controlled setting.
Field study is usually academic, technical, formal educational in register.
Field study: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfiːld ˌstʌdi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfild ˌstʌdi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Get your boots dirty (metaphor for doing field study)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a scientist in a *field* of wheat, *studying* the crops instead of being in a lab.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A JOURNEY (into the field); RESEARCH IS EXPLORATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely synonym for 'field study' in an academic context?