PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 lesson 3,5

• Observation


  Technique of gathering data whereby you personally watch, interact, or communicate with the subject
• Casual observation


  • Observing the right thing at the right place and also at the right time by a matter of chance or by luck
• Scientific observation


  • Involves the use of the tools of measurement
• Natural observation


  Observing the behavior in a normal setting, no efforts are made
• Subjective observation


  Observation of one's own immediate experience
• Objective observation


  Observation of the activity of any type of operation that is being observed
• Direct observation


  Straightforward as compared to indirect observation
• Indirect observation


  Studies the recording by some other means like photographic or electronic
• Participant observation


  Interact with participants and became part of their community
• Non-participant observation


  No participation of the observer in the activities of the group takes place, no relationship between the researcher and the group
• Structured observation


  Works according to a plan and involves specific information about the units that are to be observed
• Unstructured observation


  Observer has the freedom to note down what seems correct and relevant
• Controlled observation


  Observations made under the influence of some external forces, rarely lead to improvements
• Uncontrolled observation


  Made in the natural environment and reversed using to the controlled ones
• Covert observation


  Researcher pretends to be an ordinary member of the group and observes in secret
• Overt observation


  Researcher tells the group s/he is conducting research
• Interview


  Qualitative research technique, conducting intensive individual interviews with a small number of respondents to explore their perspectives on a particular idea or situation
• Interview formats

  • Structured interview
  • Unstructured interview
  • Semi-structured interview
• Structured interview


  Series of pre-determined questions that all interviewees answer in the same order, data analysis usually tends to be more straightforward
• Unstructured interview


  Usually the least reliable because no questions are prepared, and data collection is conducted in an informal manner with a high level of bias due to the differences in the formulation of questions
• Semi-structured interview


  Components used to prepare a set of same questions, additional questions might be asked (Follow-up question)
• Survey


  Assess thoughts, opinions, and feelings, necessary to pilot test the survey on a sample of your target group
• Data collection methods in survey

  • Self-completion survey
  • Interviewer-based survey
• Self-completion survey


  Via email, mail, internet, or SMS, the least expensive, widespread sample, allow respondents time to consider their answers, eliminate interviewer errors, disadvantage potentially high non-response
• Interviewer-based survey


  Face-to-face or telephone surveys, generally allow more data to be gathered, can include the use of more complex questionnaires, reduce non-response by answering respondents' queries or concerns, face-to-face more expensive than other methodologies
• Types of Observation:

  • Natural observation
  • Subjective observation
  • Objective observation
  • Direct observation
  • Indirect observation
  • Participant observation
  • Non-Participant observation
  • Structured observation
  • Unstructured observation
  • Controlled observation
  • Uncontrolled observation
  • Covert observation
  • Overt observation
• Observation method


  Judgements based on perceptions, the same event occurring in the environment will be perceived differently by different people
• Select the research site


  • The site where you can best understand your central phenomenon or topic being studied
  • Gaining access through letter of consent (prerequisite first step)
• Develop observational protocol


  • Method used for recording observation notes
  • Descriptive - those about what happened
  • Reflective - learning based on what have been observed
• Determine your role


  • Will you be a participant observer or non-participant observer?
• Record field notes


  • Record what you observe using your five senses
  • Observation should be arranged chronologically in order
• Slowly withdraw


  • Slowly withdraw by thanking the participants for their time