QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION 1: OBSERVATION

OBSERVATION AS A METHOD FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

OBSERVATION is an activity that we undertake in daily life, but it is also a primary technique in research if it:

Serves a formulated research objective Is systematically designed Is systematically documented/recorded Is related to a theoretical/conceptual framework Is subjected to checks on validity & reliability

ADVANTAGES
1. THEY DOCUMENT AN EVENT SIMULTANEOUSLY AS IT SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURS; not recall of past or forecast of future behavior where there is distortion & detachment Data is directly relevant to typical conditions of behavior. Combine: what people do (observe) & what people say (interview)

2. THEY DOCUMENT FORMS OF BEHAVIOR THAT ARE TAKEN FOR GRANTED BY THE PEOPLE (e.g., ordinary everyday events) 3. THEY ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE SUBJECTS ABILITY TO SPEAK (e.g., infants, animals)

4. THEY ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE SUBJECTS WILLINGNESS TO SPEAK. They are less demanding of active participation of the subjects.

It is difficult for subjects to alter their behavior in a real-life event.

DISADVANTAGES
1.

2.

3.

Difficult to forecast the spontaneous occurrence of an event to ensure that we are there to observe it. Some events require emotional and physical endurance on the part of the observer (e.g., during disasters). Unpredictable factors may interfere with the observation (e.g., weather).

4. Because of 1-3, observational methods are often more costly than interviewing. 5. The lengthy duration of some events can limit observation (life histories). 6. Some events are not accessible to direct observation of an outsider (e.g., sexual behavior).

RESEARCH PURPOSES SERVED BY OBSERVATION

TO GAIN INSIGHTS THAT WILL LATER BE TESTED BY OTHER TECHNIQUES (EXPLORATORY) TO GATHER SUPPLEMENTARY DATA THAT MAY HELP QUALIFY OR INTERPRET FINDINGS OBTAINED BY OTHER TECHNIQUES TO PROVIDE ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF SITUATIONS (MAIN METHOD)

WHAT SHOULD BE OBSERVED

CHECKLIST OF SIGNIFICANT ELEMENTS OF A SOCIAL SITUATION CAN SUGGEST DIRECTIONS OF OBSERVATION: THE PARTICIPANTS

Who are they How are they related to one another How many are there

THE SETTING

Appearance What kinds of behavior it encourages, permits, discourages or prevents (social characteristics of the setting may be described: what kinds of behavior are likely to be perceived as unexpected, approved or disapproved, conforming or deviant)

THE PURPOSE

What has brought the participants together (by chance? Is there an official purpose?) How do participants react to the official purpose with acceptance or rejection? What goals other than the official purpose do the participants seem to be pursuing? Are the goals of the various participants compatible or conflicting?

THE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR (WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURS)

What do the participants do With whom do they do it With what do they do it With respect to behavior: stimulus, objective, towards whom or what, form of the activity, qualities (intensity, effects, persistence, usualness, appropriateness

FREQUENCY AND DURATION

When did the situation occur How long did it last Is it unique or a recurring type If it recurs, how frequently does it occur What are the situations that give rise to it How typical of such situations is the one being observed

ASSURE ACCURACY OF OBSERVATION

PRACTICE & IMPROVE OBSERVATION SKILLS INDEPENDENT CHECKS:

Use of tape recorder Use of AV (videocamera) recorder Team of observers for the same event (compare findings & check biases) Indicate in notes which statements refer to actual events & which are observers interpretations

ROLES OF AN OBSERVER

Several roles, depending on combination of observation and participation: Complete observer to complete participant Participant-observer various ways and degrees of observation and participation Participant observation seems easy (looking, listening, experiencing & writing) but experts regard this as the most personally demanding & analytically tedious method of research.

RECORDING OBSERVATION

Observing & writing notes are two distinct activities that can compete with each other On-the-spot recording is the best because of minimum selective bias and distortion thru memory; but not always feasible Jot down significant key words on small sheet of paper or leave the situation for a few minutes every hour to make notes. Write up notes in narrative form ASAP. Indexing

ESTABLISHNG A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OBSERVER & OBSERVED

FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE A FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP Nature of the subject or community under study Nature of the study itself Personality of the researcher

ESTABLISH & SUSTAIN GOOD FIELD RELATIONSHIPS. 2 major concerns: Trust Cooperation BASIC STRATEGIES: Gaining acceptance Developing rapport