Field studies refer to a type of research methodology where data is collected and observed in its natural setting, rather than being conducted in a controlled laboratory environment. This means that researchers go out into the field - which could be any location outside of a lab, such as a forest or an urban street - to gather information about a particular phenomenon through direct observation, interviews, surveys, and other data collection techniques. Field studies are often used in various academic disciplines including anthropology, sociology, geography, ecology, and education, among others. The goal of field studies is typically to gain a deeper understanding of complex social or environmental phenomena as they occur in their natural contexts, rather than being artificially created or manipulated in a lab setting.