👉 Close research, also known as intensive or detailed fieldwork, is a rigorous methodological approach where researchers immerse themselves deeply within a specific context or community to gather comprehensive and nuanced data. This involves prolonged engagement, often months or even years, allowing researchers to build trust, observe behaviors firsthand, and collect rich, qualitative insights that might be missed in shorter-term studies. By spending extended time in the field, researchers can capture the subtleties of social dynamics, cultural practices, and individual experiences, leading to a more thorough understanding of the subject matter. This method is particularly valuable in anthropology, sociology, and other social sciences, where context and depth are crucial for accurate interpretation and analysis.