English

fieldwork

gb/fˈildwˌɚk/ us/fˈildwˌɚk/
B2 English
Senses
0 senses
Noun B2 process
1

Research in real-world settings

research done in the real place you are studying, not just from books or in a lab.

Usage pattern: do/conduct/carry out fieldwork; fieldwork in [place/subject]
Common mistake:
Fieldwork is usually uncountable: say “do fieldwork” or “conduct fieldwork,” not “make a fieldwork.” A short educational visit is usually a “field trip.”
Synonyms
field research (very close synonym, often more explicitly academic) | field study (often refers to a particular research project or course activity) | on-site research (emphasizes being physically present at the location)
Antonyms
desk research (research done from existing sources rather than direct observation) | laboratory research (research done in controlled lab conditions) | theoretical work (work based mainly on ideas or models, not direct data collection)
Collocations
do fieldwork |conduct fieldwork |carry out fieldwork |fieldwork data |fieldwork notes |fieldwork site |ethnographic fieldwork |archaeological fieldwork |geological fieldwork |fieldwork methods
Themes
research |education |science |social_sciences
Examples
  • The anthropologist spent six months doing fieldwork in rural villages.
  • Bad weather delayed the geological fieldwork for several days.
  • Her fieldwork included interviews with nurses, patients, and hospital managers.
Learner examples
  • We did fieldwork in the forest last week.
  • His fieldwork helped him collect real data.
Noun B2 process
2

Practical training outside class

practical work that students do in a real workplace or community as part of their training.

Usage pattern: fieldwork in/at [organization]; [number] hours of fieldwork
Common mistake:
Do not use “fieldwork” for every kind of job experience. It usually belongs to a course, training program, or professional practice requirement.
Synonyms
practicum (common in education and professional training, especially North American English) | placement (often means an assigned training position, especially British English) | internship (work experience, but not always course-supervised or community-based)
Antonyms
classroom study (learning done in class rather than in a real workplace or community) | coursework (academic assignments rather than practical supervised work)
Collocations
supervised fieldwork |fieldwork placement |fieldwork supervisor |fieldwork hours |fieldwork experience |social work fieldwork |clinical fieldwork |teacher-training fieldwork
Themes
education |training |work |healthcare |social_work
Examples
  • Social work students must complete two semesters of fieldwork before they graduate.
  • During her fieldwork placement, she worked with children at a community center.
  • The program requires 500 hours of supervised fieldwork.
Learner examples
  • She did fieldwork at a local school.
  • The course includes classroom study and fieldwork.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fieldwork
IPA
GB/fˈildwˌɚk/
US/fˈildwˌɚk/
Syllables & stress
field - work (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (field)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: fieldwork
  • Plural: fieldwork, fieldworks
Expressions

No expressions linked to this entry yet.

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