Field Study

A field study is a qualitative UX research method where researchers observe and interview users in their real-world environments—such as their homes, workplaces, or public spaces. This approach helps researchers gather in-depth insights about user behaviors, challenges, and motivations that might not be revealed in a lab setting.

While the focus is on qualitative data, such as observing interactions and collecting feedback through interviews, field studies can also include quantitative elements. For example, researchers may measure task completion times, error rates, or frequency of certain behaviors to complement qualitative insights.

This method is often used in the exploratory (or generative) phase to identify user needs, pain points, and opportunities that shape early product ideas.