Table 1. Field note application of Spradley’s nine domainsa.
Space | Locations where observations were recorded. For example, in the art room or cafeteria of the clubhouse. |
Actors | Staff observed and number of members. For example, staff X and staff Y worked with a group of ten members. |
Activity | Events that the actors (staff and members) engaged in. For example, a lunch-time cooking group. |
Object | Physical artefacts present during an activity. For example, food ingredients, stove and other kitchen utensils. |
Act | Individual behaviours that actors engaged in during an activity. For example, how a staff member used a whiteboard to facilitate task allocation during a cooking group. |
Event | Summary title for groups of activities. For example, a fundraising day. |
Time | Times when periods of observation took place. |
Goal | The apparent intention of actors during activities. For example, staff sought to involve members in food preparation as much as possible. |
Feeling | Emotions conveyed by actors during activities. For example, staff appeared happy when several members volunteered to contribute to the fundraising day activity. |
From Spradley.25