Field research on human service encounters (e.g., doctor-patient interaction, policesuspect encounters, counselor-student interviews) has become increasingly diverse in the types of human service organizations studied, the methods used to collect data, and analytic foci. Despite this diversity, the process of assembling a data base has not been subjected to systematic treatment. Field researchers interested in human service encounters face a number of problems and issues, some of which are unique to this type of setting, others of which are common to most field research. The author first delineates some of the problems and issues facing field researchers interested in studying human service encounters. Second, he considers alternative ways of addressing these problems and issues. Problems, issues, and alternative ways of addressing them are considered in light of the specific characteristics of the research setting under study and the analytic focus of the research.
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