At first glance, it would appear that the sheer description of the item to be analyzed functionally entails few, if any problems.  Presumably, one should describe the item "as fully and as accurately" as possible.  Yet, at second thought, it is evident that this maxim provides next to no guidance for the observer.  Consider the plight of a functionally oriented neophyte armed only with this dictum as an aid to answering the question: what am I to observe, what am I to incorporate into my field notes, and what may I safely omit? (1968, p. 109).