2017/04/05 by Julia Phillippi, Julia C. Phillippi, Jana Lauderdale · 10 citations
Social Sciences · #Data Analysis and Archiving #Qualitative Research Methods and Applications #Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
paper · doi:10.1177/1049732317697102
openalex publication_date 2017/04/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
Field notes are widely recommended in qualitative research as a means of documenting needed contextual information. With growing use of data sharing, secondary analysis, and metasynthesis, field notes ensure rich context persists beyond the original research team. However, while widely regarded as essential, there is not a guide to field note collection within the literature to guide researchers. Using the qualitative literature and previous research experience, we provide a concise guide to collection, incorporation, and dissemination of field notes. We provide a description of field note content for contextualization of an entire study as well as individual interviews and focus groups. In addition, we provide two "sketch note" guides, one for study context and one for individual interviews or focus groups for use in the field. Our guides are congruent with many qualitative and mixed methodologies and ensure contextual information is collected, stored, and disseminated as an essential component of ethical, rigorous qualitative research.