Glossary
Field study
What is a Field Study?
A field study is a user research method conducted in the natural environment where a product or service is actually used, rather than in a lab or office setting.
How it works
Field research takes place in users’ own environments and can combine observation, contextual inquiry and interviews. It can reveal constraints and routines that are difficult to reproduce in a lab or recall in an interview. Natural context does not eliminate observer effects or sampling bias, and studies vary in cost and control.
Applied example
Imagine designing an app for delivery drivers. In the office, the screen looks clear and both hands are free. Out on a route, a driver may be carrying packages, wearing gloves or trying to read in bright sunlight. A field study lets the team investigate which of these conditions actually occur and how they affect use.
Why it matters
Field studies reveal the real conditions under which products are used, exposing the gap between how designers imagine use and how use actually occurs.
Keep track of who was observed and under which conditions. Seeing work in its real setting adds context, but a few visits cannot stand for every user or situation.