Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2019 Nov;17(6):554-560.
doi: 10.1370/afm.2453.

The 3 Cs of Content, Context, and Concepts: A Practical Approach to Recording Unstructured Field Observations

Michael D Fetters  1 , Ellen B Rubinstein  2
Affiliations
Review

The 3 Cs of Content, Context, and Concepts: A Practical Approach to Recording Unstructured Field Observations

Michael D Fetters et al. Ann Fam Med. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

Most 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.

Keywords: Hawthorne effect; behavioral research; communication; family medicine; field notes; field observations; general medicine; informed consent; mixed methods: participatory/action research; primary care; qualitative research; research methodology.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Mast MS. On the importance of nonverbal communication in the physician-patient interaction. Patient Educ Couns. 2007; 67(3): 315–318. - PubMed
    1. Bardes CL, Gillers D, Herman AE. Learning to look: developing clinical observational skills at an art museum. Med Educ. 2001; 35(12): 1157–1161. - PubMed
    1. Schaff PB, Isken S, Tager RM. From contemporary art to core clinical skills: observation, interpretation, and meaning-making in a complex environment. Acad Med. 2011; 86(10): 1272–1276. - PubMed
    1. Sanjek R. Fieldnotes: The Makings of Anthropology. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press; 1990.
    1. Bauer MS, Damschroder L, Hagedorn H, Smith J, Kilbourne AM. An introduction to implementation science for the non-specialist. BMC Psychol. 2015; 3(1): 32. - PMC - PubMed