This approach is very flexible because it allows the observer to react to and report subtle aspects of events as they occur.ĭuring the act of observation, the observer is free to change the focus of observation, concentrate on unexpected events, or even change the place of observation if the situation demands it. Non-participant observation: The observer watches the situation openly but does notĭirect observation refers to when the observer remains physically present and personally monitors what takes place.Participant observation: The observer takes part in the situation he or she observes.The third approach leads to a study we refer to as participant observation. When an observation study is conducted with the first two approaches, we call it a non-participant observation study. What role the does observer play during the observation.Whether the observer’s presence is known or unknown, and.Whether the observation is direct or indirect,.It is also useful for organizational studies such as observation of clinic operations, activities of field workers, and administrative procedures.Īn observational study is usually initiated from three different perspectives, as outlined below: It is the chief method of ethnographers who specialize in community studies. This technique particularly lends itself to observing community responses to program efforts. Relatively highly skilled observers and analysts. ![]() This technique can generate quantitative or qualitative data but tends to be used more for small-scale exploratory studies than large-scale quantitative studies. It is also difficult to gather information on intentions, opinions, attitudes, or preferences. In an observational study, there is no way to know the past. This feature tends to limit the size of the sample. Smallness in sample sizeīecause observational studies are generally conducted in-depth, with data that are often subjective and difficult to quantify, the sample size is usually kept at a minimum.Īlso, the in-depth nature of the observation studies generally requires that they are conducted over an extended period than the survey method or experiments. Measurement in observational studies generally takes the form of the observer’s un-quantified perceptions rather than the quantitative measures often used in the survey and experimental studies. The presence of a stranger (the observer) and the error involved in human observation and the recording of data, which may remain out of the observer’s control, are likely to bias the observations greatly. Disadvantages of the Observation Methodĭespite the advantage of the natural environment, the observation study has little control over extraneous variables that may affect the data. These include children, crippled, and mentally and physically handicraft people. ![]() Some studies focus on individuals who cannot give verbal reports or articulate themselves meaningfully.įor these subjects, the observational method is indispensable. Observation is decidedly superior to survey research, experimentation, or document study for collecting data on nonverbal behavior. Since the observation can be conducted in a natural setting, the observer can conduct his or her study over a much longer period than the survey or experiment. Observation is neither as restrictive nor artificial as the survey or the experiment. ![]() Whereas other data collection techniques introduce artificiality into the research environment, data collected in an observation study describe the observed phenomena as they occur in their natural settings. While the survey respondents may have a hazy or lapsed memory about events that occurred in the distant past, the observer is studying events as they occur. He or she can simply watch as individuals act and speak. The observer does not have to ask people about their behavior and reports from others. ![]() We can collect data at the time they occur. The main advantage of observation is its directness.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |