Mapa mental
OBSERVATION
Conteúdo do mapa
OBSERVATION
Definition
- Research characterised by a prolonged period of intense social interaction between the researcher and the subjects, in the milieu of the latter, during which time data, in the form of field notes, are unobtrusively and systematically collected
Planning
- How people see and understand their surroundings will no doubt play a part in the ways in which they behave by others.
- Observation is an extremely handy tool for researchers in this regard.
- It can allow researchers to understand much more about what goes on in complex realworld situations
- Observation is an extremely handy tool for researchers in this regard.
- How people see and understand their surroundings will no doubt play a part in the ways in which they behave by others.
Conducting an observation
- You will find it helpful to be reasonably confident of two things: the focus of your study, what it is you wish to explore and learn more about; and the research questions you intend to address.
- It is only when you are reasonably sure of the purpose of your study and of the questions to which you seek answers that you will be able to begin thinking about the array of issues associated with observational research.
- Choosing what to observe: the social situation
- All social situations possess three components: a location; the people (sometimes called actors); and the activity or activities taking place.
- Focus on which of the three best suits your own research interests and you will make your research manageable.
- All social situations possess three components: a location; the people (sometimes called actors); and the activity or activities taking place.
- Gaining access and establishing yourself
- Your first task is to gain permission to conduct your study in your preferred setting.
- Explain the benefits for the participants of granting you access: what’s in it for them? Reassure them that they will have access to all research findings.
- Be espectful; gain and keep the trust placed in you; be open and transparent in your actions; and keep your promises.
- Explain the benefits for the participants of granting you access: what’s in it for them? Reassure them that they will have access to all research findings.
- Your first task is to gain permission to conduct your study in your preferred setting.
- How to observe: telling the story
- We have always found it helpful to set ourselves six questions: who, what, when, where, why and how – and we recommend you do the same.
- It may also be useful to bear in mind the terminology commonly used in telling your story: acts are the single actions people do; activities are sets of related acts; and events are sets of related activities
- We have always found it helpful to set ourselves six questions: who, what, when, where, why and how – and we recommend you do the same.
- Capturing what you see
- All observation strategies possess two basic features , what is to be observed, and how it is to be recorded.
- Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to recording your observations: a structured approach and a descriptive approach.
- The first involves the systematic counting of events and their relationships, while the second attempts to look beyond such measures to explore the meanings of events.
- Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to recording your observations: a structured approach and a descriptive approach.
- All observation strategies possess two basic features , what is to be observed, and how it is to be recorded.
- You will find it helpful to be reasonably confident of two things: the focus of your study, what it is you wish to explore and learn more about; and the research questions you intend to address.
Conclusion
- Observation serves to see what it really is in the social setting you are investigating, which may not be at all what you are used to seeing or what you expected or presumed you would see is both the challenge and the reward of observational research.
- With careful planning and a little practice, there's no reason you shouldn't be up to the challenge.
- Observation serves to see what it really is in the social setting you are investigating, which may not be at all what you are used to seeing or what you expected or presumed you would see is both the challenge and the reward of observational research.
Data analysis
- One major source of information is jottings.
- When you come to write up your field notes in full, your jottings will trigger your memory of the event.
- The field notes you compile will be the core of your observational study and the foundation for the analysis phase of your research.
- • Write your notes as soon as possible after the observation. • Label your notes properly.
- One major source of information is jottings.