Ethnographic field research refers to the collection of empirical data on-site, meaning within concrete social settings, as opposed to laboratory research, archival research or standardized survey studies. The typically long-term participation of ethnographers in the daily life of the group under study allows for direct observation of social practices and processes, allowing for insights into actual behavior. It is important to note that researchers are always part of the situations in the field, and their assigned and assumed social positions significantly influence their data – that is, what they are able to observe and understand.