Final answer:
The statement is true; field work involves learning and understanding through direct observation in the natural environment of both people and primates, and is used across disciplines like anthropology, biology, and sociology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that field work is a method of learning and understanding by first-hand observation of people and primates is true. Fieldwork is a research method used in various disciplines, such as anthropology, biology, sociology, and more, to collect data directly from the natural environment. In this context, it involves going into the field — be it a local community, a far-off region, or a natural habitat — to observe and gather information on subjects within their own settings.
Anthropologists, for example, might travel to distant regions to understand different cultures, while biologists may study animals like primates in their natural habitats to gain insights into their behavior. Sociologists may engage in fieldwork by entering different social environments to observe human interactions and social processes. The key aspect of field research is that it is centered around observing and sometimes participating in the natural environments of the subjects, aiming to learn about behaviors, practices, and cultures without the influencing factors of a laboratory or controlled experiment.