Final answer:
Field researchers perform most of their work offsite, using technology such as Microsoft Teams for remote interviews, while professionals like pollsters work onsite, conducting exit polls and focus groups in person. Technology has shifted polling methods, but in-person interviews remain crucial in businesses' hiring processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Field researchers typically perform most of their work offsite, as they collect data outside traditional environments such as laboratories or offices, which can include conducting interviews through various platforms like Microsoft Teams or by using other remote methods. In contrast, certain professionals such as pollsters perform the majority of their work onsite, for example, conducting exit polls where they interact with voters in person immediately after they have cast their ballots or facilitating focus groups where selected respondents discuss specific topics.
The use of technology in polling has shifted historically from in-person cold-calling and neighborhood visits to more deliberate, scientifically based methods. Yet in-person data collection methods still exist in the form of exit polls, focus groups, and some public opinion polls. This can be particularly seen in the business sector where onsite interviews are an essential part of the hiring process in mid-size to large businesses, with insider-outsider models highlighting the different knowledge levels between current employees and new or potential hires.
The concept of offshoring and outsourcing has also influenced where and how work is conducted, with operations or tasks being moved to external contractors or overseas to leverage cheaper labor markets or specialized expertise.