• Michael D Fetters and Ellen B Rubinstein.
• Mixed Methods Program, Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan mfetters@med.umich.edu.
• Ann Fam Med. 2019 Nov 1; 17 (6): 554-560.

AbstractMost primary care researchers lack a practical approach for including field observations in their studies, even though observations can offer important qualitative insights and provide a mechanism for documenting behaviors, events, and unexpected occurrences. We present an overview of unstructured field observations as a qualitative research method for analyzing material surroundings and social interactions. We then detail a practical approach to collecting and recording observational data through a "3 Cs" template of content, context, and concepts. To demonstrate how this method works in practice, we provide an example of a completed template and discuss the analytical approach used during a study on informed consent for research participation in the primary care setting of Qatar.© 2019 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.

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