Field Notes Organizer
A comprehensive field notes organizer designed for ethnographic researchers, anthropologists, sociologists, and qualitative researchers conducting fieldwork. Create structured field notes with four-type note system (descriptive, reflective, theoretical, methodological), track observation details, manage participants, log key events, document follow-up questions, and organize observations with tags and filters. Perfect for participant observation, ethnographic studies, case study research, and any methodology requiring systematic field documentation.
Key Features
- Comprehensive project information tracking
- Researcher and institution documentation
- Study period and location tracking
- Research question documentation
- Individual field note entries with date/time
- Location and setting description
- Observation duration tracking
- 4 observation types: non-participant, semi-participant, participant, complete participant
- Weather and researcher mood tracking
- Descriptive notes (what happened)
- Reflective notes (researcher interpretations)
- Theoretical notes (connections to theory)
- Methodological notes (about research process)
- Tag system for organizing notes
- Participant tracking and management
- Key events logging
- Follow-up questions documentation
- Search across all note fields
- Filter by tags
- Filter by observation type
- Sort by date, duration, or last updated
- Detailed note view with all sections
- Edit and update existing notes
- Delete notes with confirmation
- Comprehensive analytics dashboard
- Observations by type breakdown
- Total observation time tracking
- Average duration calculations
- Unique locations count
- Total participants tracking
- Timeline overview by month
- Export to formatted text for documentation
- Export to JSON for backup
- Import from JSON
- Browser localStorage persistence
- No login required
- Statistics summary
- Notes by month visualization
- Professional formatting for exports
- Print-friendly output
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four types of field notes I should be taking?
Effective field notes include four distinct types: (1) Descriptive notes - objective observations of what you see, hear, and experience (people, settings, behaviors, conversations), (2) Reflective notes - your personal reactions, feelings, and preliminary interpretations, (3) Theoretical notes - connections to theory, literature, and emerging analytical ideas, (4) Methodological notes - decisions about your research process, challenges encountered, and adjustments made. This tool structures all four types to ensure comprehensive documentation.
How soon after fieldwork should I write field notes?
Write field notes as soon as possible after observation - ideally within 24 hours while details are fresh. Memory fades quickly; waiting more than a day significantly reduces detail accuracy. Many researchers write brief jottings during observation, then expand into full field notes immediately after leaving the field. This tool helps you quickly structure notes with prompts for all essential elements, making the writing process more efficient.
Should I write field notes during observation or after?
It depends on your research context. In some settings, taking notes during observation is natural and expected (classroom observations, public events). In others, it may be intrusive or change participant behavior (sensitive settings, intimate conversations). Many ethnographers take minimal jottings during observation, then write detailed expanded notes afterward. This tool accommodates both approaches - enter brief notes in real-time or comprehensive notes after fieldwork.