OBSERVATIONS

OBSERVATIONS

1. DEFINITION

   • Research characterised by a prolonged period of intense social interaction between the researcher and the subjects
   • during which time data, in the form of field notes, are unobtrusively and systematically collected
   • is an extremely handy tool for researchers
   • observation involves a range of skills, of which observing is just one.
     • listening, participating, contributing, pursuing, questioning, communicating, interacting, sharing, refraining, retreating, negotiating, timing, recording, describing

2. PLANNING AND CONDUCING THE OBSERVATION

   • Choosing what to observe
     • which will be the observational focus
     • . All social situations possess three components
       • a location
       • The people (ACTORS)
       • the activity or activities taking place
   • Gaining access and establishing yourself
     • Prepare a letter explaining the purpose
       • Include assurances and guarantees that any information collected would be used purely
       • Explain the benefits for the participants
         • BE UNOBTRUSIVE
         • BE HONEST
         • BE UNASSUMING
         • BE A GOOD LISTENER
         • BE APPROACHABLE
     • will not be enough and permission will be refused
   • How to observe
     • It's helpful to response
       • who, what, when, where, why, how
     • basic defiitions
       • ACTS
         • single actions people do
       • ACTIVITIES
         • sets of related acts
       • EVENTS
         • sets of related activities
   • Capturing what you see
     • FEATURES
       • what is to be observed
       • how it is to be recorded
         • STRUCTURED
           • systematic counting of events and their relationships
         • DESCRIPTIVE
           • measures to explore the meanings of events

3. ISSUES

   • COULD TAKE MOE TIME THAN OTHER KIND OF METHODS
     • Is flexible but need an specific space
       • cannot be applied to very large groups
         • could be expensive
           • requires specialists

4. DATA ANALYSIS

   • require
     • SPACE
       • the physical places
     • ACTOR
       • people involved
     • ACTIVITY
       • Related acts people do
     • OBJECT
     • ACT
     • EVENT
     • TIME
     • GOAL
     • FEELING

5. WHEN TO USE

   • understand much more about what goes on in complex realworld situations
   • When the best way to research what you want to know is to experience it for yourself
   • When the context of the events you are researching is important
     • When the ways in which people behave and interact with one another in a social setting are important to your research.
     • When you are interested in researching social settings and what happens in them.

6. INFORMATION FROM: Using Research Instruments. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022,

   • EQUIPO 04: DANIEL OLMOS ONOFRE, JOCELYN DE LOS SANTOS VEGA, ALMA YANET HERNANDEZ GARCIA, MARIA FERNANDA OLMOS ONOFRE, EMILY VIRIDIANA RAMIREZ DIAZ