Exam 10: Using Observation

When you critique the use of observation in a research project you should consider the validity of the observation as a means of gathering data for that particular study. You should also consider the rigour with which the observation was designed, constructed and carried out.

Observation yields primary data.

In a structured observation the researcher:

What kind of data can be produced in an observation study?

The field in data gathering in social research is:

Participant observation is carried out by the researcher participating in some way in the activity or the phenomenon being observed.

Covert observation is observation that is carried out covertly, or secretly, observation that is carried out without the knowledge of those who are being observed.

The critical decisions to be made in any observation study are: deciding what exactly is to be observed; deciding how to conduct the observation; and deciding how to record the observation.

In a semi-structured observation the researcher:

It is through theorising the data gathered, through knitting the research that is being carried out into the body of knowledge, that the researcher makes their contribution to knowledge.

As observation may be unstructured, semi structured or structured, so too the observation schedule can be unstructured, semi structured or structured. The observation schedule is designed to facilitate the recording of the observation, so if the observation is unstructured, so too will be the observation schedule. If the observation is semi structured, so too will be the observation schedule. If the observation is structured, so too will be the observation schedule.

Covert observation is:

An observation schedule is the structure created by the researcher to facilitate the recording of the observations made.