Observational Research

Observation is a fundamental way of finding out about the world around us. As human beings, we pick up information about our environment through our senses.

As a method of data collection for research purposes, observation is more than just looking or listening.

Research, simply defined, is ‘systematic enquiry made public’ (Stenhouse, 1975).

Firstly, in order to become systematic, observation must in some way be selective. We are constantly bombarded by huge amounts of sensory information. Systematic observation entails careful planning of what we want to observe.

Secondly, in order to make observation ‘public’, what we see or hear has to be recorded in some way to allow the information to be analysed and interpreted.

Observation is a systematic data collection approach. Researchers use all of their senses to examine people in natural settings or naturally occurring situations.

Observation of a field setting involves

• Ø  prolonged engagement in a setting or social situation
• Ø  clearly expressed, self-conscious systems of how observing is done
• Ø  methodical and tactical improvisation in order to develop a full understanding of the setting of interest
• Ø  imparting attention in standardized ways
• Ø  recording one’s observations.

 Use of Observational Method

There are a variety of reasons for collecting observational data. Some of these reasons include

• Ø  When the nature of the research question to be answered is focused on answering a how- or what-type question
• Ø  When the topic is relatively unexplored and little is known to explain the behavior of people in a particular setting
• Ø  When understanding the meaning of a setting in a detailed way is valuable
• Ø  When it is important to study a phenomenon in its natural setting
• Ø  When self-report data (asking people what they do) is likely to be different from actual behavior (what people actually do).
• Ø  When implementing an intervention in a natural setting, observation may be used in conjunction with other quantitative data collection techniques.

  Classification of Observational Method

Observational methods can be classified as follows – 

Ø  Casual and Scientific Observation

Ø  Natural Observation

Ø  Direct and Indirect Observation

Ø  Subjective and Objective Observation

Ø  Participant and Non Participant Observation

Ø  Structured and Unstructured Observation

Ø  Controlled and Un-controlled Observation

Ø  Covert and Overt Observation

Casual and Scientific Observation: An observation can be sometimes casual in nature or sometimes it may act scientifically. An observation with a casual approach involves observing the right thing at the right place and also at the right time by a matter of chance or by luck whereas a scientific observation involves the use of the tools of the measurement, but a very important point to be kept in mind here is that all the observations are not scientific in nature.

Natural Observation: Natural observation involves observing the behaviour in a normal setting and in this type of observation, no efforts are made to bring any type of change in the behavior of the observed. Improvement in the collection of the information and improvement in the environment of making an observation can be done with the help of natural observations.

Direct and Indirect Observation: With the help of the direct method of observation, one comes to know how the observer is physically present in which type of situation is he present and then this type of observation monitors what takes place. Indirect method of observation involves studies of mechanical recording or the recording by some of the other means like photographic or electronic. Direct observation is relatively more straight forward as compared to the indirect observation.

 (contd..)