What is the difference between field notes and formal investigative reports?

• A. Field notes are formal and used only for internal reviews; official reports are informal.
• B. Field notes are recorded after the fact to summarize events; formal reports are narrative.
• C. Field notes are contemporaneous, informal observations used to support a formal report, which is a structured, official document.
• D. Field notes are never admissible in court.

Answer: (C)

Field notes capture what you observe as events unfold, written contemporaneously and in a more informal, on-the-scene style. They’re meant to quickly record details like times, places, actions, statements, and your immediate impressions. A formal investigative report, by contrast, is the structured official document that follows a set format: it summarizes the purpose and scope, lays out the evidence, presents findings, analyzes the information, and states conclusions and any recommendations. The field notes provide the raw material—the specific observations, quotes, sketches, and timelines—that the report organizes into a clear, defendable narrative. In practice, you refer back to the field notes to support what the report says, but the report itself is the finished product designed for official use and potential review or court proceedings. Field notes aren’t the polished conclusion; they’re the on-the-ground record that underpins the formal, structured document.