In Field Research, the Researcher Is the Primary Instrument of Inquiry

question 66

Essay

In field research, the researcher is the primary instrument of inquiry. Carefully explain the meaning of this statement by discussing how, more so than in surveys and experiments, the quality of field research depends on the observational and analytical skills of the researcher.

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Definitions:

Encoding Failure

The inability to create a memory link because the information was not attended to or analyzed deeply enough.

Proactive Interference

The tendency for earlier learned material to interfere with the retention of new information.

Decay

The process of decline or deterioration over time, used in various contexts such as physical, biological, or psychological.

Retrieval Failure

Not remembering something one is certain of knowing.