1. Observation Qualitative Research Methods

2. Observation Observation in Research Is a research tool when: 1. it’s systematic 2. it addresses a specific research question 3. is subject to the checks and balances in producing trustworthy results

3. Observation Observation in Research Training includes: 1. learning to pay attention 2. writing descriptively 3. taking disciplined field notes 4. knowing how to separate details from trivia 5. using rigorous validation methods

4. Observation Observation in Research “Qualitative researchers, like others whose roles demand selective attentiveness – artists and novelists,... pay special attention to a few things to which others ordinarily give only passing attention.” (Walcott, 1992, p. 22-23)

5. Observation Why Observation? 1.An outsider will notice things that have become routine to the participants themselves - fresh perspective 2.Used for triangulation 3.Makes it possible to record behaviors as they happen

6. Observation Why Observation? 4.Provides a context to the situations as well as specific examples/incidents 5.Participants may not be able or willing to discuss the topic being studied

7. Observation To Observe or Not to Observe? 1.Is the topic too sensitive? - i.e., prejudice 2.Can you actually observe the phenomenon? 3.Do you have a lot of time? 4.Not sure of what you’re looking for?

8. Observation What to Observe When Observing? 1. Physical Setting: - physical environment - the context of the setting - what the environment was designed for - space allocation - objects, resources, technology - colors - etc.

9. Observation What to Observe When Observing? 2. The Participants: - Who- Why - How many- Relevant characteristics - Patterns & frequencies of interaction

10. Observation What to Observe When Observing? 3. Activities & Interactions: - What’s going on? - How are people interacting? - How are the people and activities connected? - When did activity begin/how long did it last? - Is it seemingly typical activity or unusual?

11. Observation What to Observe When Observing? 4. Conversation: - Content - Who’s speaking/who’s listening - Direct quotes/paraphrase/summarize - Note silences and nonverbals

12. Observation What to Observe When Observing? 5. Subtle Factors: - Informal and unplanned activities - Symbolic and connotative meanings of words - Nonverbals (including dress and physical space) - Unobtrusive measures such as physical cues - What does not happen

13. Observation What to Observe When Observing? 6. Your own behavior: - How is your role affecting the scene? - What do you say and/or do? - Your thoughts

14. Observation 3 Stages 1.Entry 2.Data Collection 3.Exit

15. Observation 3 Stages Entry: 1.Gaining entry may be difficult - use mutual acquaintances if possible 2. Be prepared to answer the following questions: - What are you actually doing? - Will you be disruptive

16. Observation 3 Stages Entry: - What are you going to do with your finding? - Why us? - What will we get out of this? (Bogdan & Biklen, 2007, p. 87-88)

17. Observation 3 Stages Data Collection: 1.Don’t expect too much from the first few days 2.The more comfortable you are in your surroundings, the longer you will be able to collect data/observe

18. Observation 3 Stages Data Collection: 3.For the first couple of days on site: - Don’t take things personally - Have someone introduce you - Keep the first observation fairly short - Be relatively passive and unobtrusive - Act and dress appropriately - Be friendly and honest, but not too detailed in explaining what you are doing there

19. Observation 3 Stages Exit: 1.Develop exit/disengagement strategy - best to gradually phase out, rather than abruptly stop coming 2. There’s no predetermined amount of time that you should spend at a site

20. Observation Types of Observations Direct (Reactive) Observation: People know you are watching them - People may react to being watched - Overcome with longitudinal observation

21. Observation Types of Observations Direct (Reactive) Observation: 2 types Continuous Monitoring: observing subject(s) and recording as much of their behavior as possible - often used in organizational settings

22. Observation Types of Observations Direct (Reactive) Observation: 2 types Time Allocation: researcher randomly selecting a place and time and then recording what people are doing when they are first seen and before they see you - Overcome sampling problems by using nonrandom locations but randomly visiting them at different time

23. Observation Types of Observations Unobtrusive Observation: individuals DO NOT know they are being studied - replication is difficult - some concerns with external validity - ethical issues

24. Observation Types of Observations Unobtrusive Observation: 2 Types: Behavior Trace Studies: involves finding things people have left behind and interpreting what they mean (i.e., University of Arizona Garbage Project)

25. Observation Types of Observations Unobtrusive Observation: 2 Types: Disguised Field Observations: the researcher pretends to join or actually is a member of a group and records data about that group - ethical concerns

26. Observation Role of the Observer “Every field work role is at once a social interaction device for securing information for scientific purposes and a set of behaviors in which an observer’s self is involved... He [is] continually introspective, raising questions about the information and the developing field relationship, with a view to playing the field work role as successfully as possible” (Gold, 1958, p. 218)

27. Observation Role of the Observer Researchers are rarely total participants or total observer Being born into a group or already being a member of a group does not necessarily make it a good fit for studying Sometimes the only way to gain access to a group is to be a member

28. Observation Role of the Observer Being an observer is a process of role definition, negotiation and renegotiation. The challenge is to find a balance between being a participant and an observer

29. Observation Role of the Observer 4 Roles: - Complete participant - Participant as observer - Observer as participant - Complete observer

30. Observation Role of the Observer 4 Roles: Complete participant: researcher is a member of the group being studied - Adv = insider information - Disadv = loss of perspective

31. Observation Role of the Observer 4 Roles: Participant as observer: the researcher’s activities, which are known to the participants, are subordinate to the researcher’s role as a participant - active membership

32. Observation Role of the Observer 4 Roles: Observer as participant: observer observes, yet interacts closely with group members to establish an insider’s identity without participating in the activities constituting the core of group membership - peripheral member

33. Observation Role of the Observer 4 Roles: Complete observer: researcher is either hidden from the group or is in a completely public setting

34. Observation Field Notes Function of Detailed Field Notes 1.To identify and follow processes in witnessed events 2.To understand how members themselves characterize and describe particular activities, events, and groups 3.To convey members’ explanations for when, why, or how particular things happen and, thereby, to elicit members’ theories of the cause of particular happening 4.To identify the practical concerns, conditions, and constraints that people confront and deal with in their everyday lives and actions

35. Observation Field Notes General Requirements: 1.Pay attention and concentration 2.Shift from wide angle to narrow angle 3.Take substantial notes while observing 4.After each session of observation take time to reflect on what you saw

36. Observation Field Notes Requirements for Notes: 1.Date, time, and location 2.Number pages 3.Record specific details and facts (who, what, where, when, how, etc) 4.Approximate transcriptions of conversations and language used

37. Observation Field Notes Requirements for Notes: 5. What texts are involved 6. Draw a diagram of the setting and trace movements through it 7. Leave room to incorporate data remembered at a later date 8. Be highly descriptive in your notes

38. Observation Field Notes Requirements for Notes: 9. Take field notes as soon as possible if not taking them during the actual observation 10. If possible tape record reflective notes to yourself about the observation - feelings, hunches, reactions, initial interpretations, speculations, & working hypothesis 11. Do not talk to anyone about the observation before your notes are taken/recorded

39. Observation Field Notes 6 Groups of Questions for Field Note Analysis: 1.Who are the people and what are they trying to accomplish? 2.How exactly do they do this? What specific means and/or strategies do they use? 3. How do members talk about, characterize, and understand what is going on? 4.What assumptions are they making? 5. What do I see going on here? What did I learn from these notes? 6. Why did I include them?