What characterizes a 'field study'?

A 'field study' is characterized by being conducted on free-living wild animals in their natural habitat. This type of research is focused on observing animals in their environment, which enables researchers to gather data in context, providing insights into their behavior, ecology, and interactions with ecosystems. Understanding how animals function in the wild is crucial for evaluating conservation needs, assessing population dynamics, and studying species behaviors that cannot always be replicated in controlled settings.

In contrast, studies that focus on captive animals under controlled conditions are generally conducted in laboratories or other controlled environments, which does not align with the essence of a field study. Invasive procedures on domestic animals typically relate to clinical or laboratory studies rather than field research, as they often require confinement and controlled conditions that undermine the concept of observing animals in their natural habitat. Lastly, while field studies can involve examining social behavior, they encompass a much broader range of research areas, including physiology, foraging behavior, reproduction, and many others, making the option focusing solely on social behavior too narrow to accurately represent a field study.