Direct observation is a very unique and significant way to collect data. It can allow you to have a structured and systematic data collection process by using properly designed observation forms. You can study any process, facility, institution, or event in the natural setting easily. This shows that researchers can have better understating with the help of direct observation. However, researchers usually face difficulties while choosing an appropriate method for direct observation for their studies.
This article has given below the five best methods that you can use in direct observation to collect data.
Direct observation:
Direct observation means watching behaviour, processes, or interactions as they occur. For instance, you observe a teacher while giving his lecture from a particular curriculum to check if he is doing it effectively. In this kind of observation, you use systematic and well-structured methods by using properly designed forms for the record. The main benefit of using this technique for data collection is that you can easily study a process, facility, institution, or event within in its natural settings. In this way, it offers you a better understanding of a topic or subject.
Methods:
Following are the best methods shared by top experts of a best dissertation writing service that can be used in direction observation to collect data:
1. Continuous monitoring:
In continuous monitoring, you will observe subjects or several subjects and record data either electronically or manually by observing their behaviour continuously. Continuous monitoring can be used in direct observation to evaluate organisational performance. However, this method can cause some issues because of the Hawthorne effect. In this effect, workers will react to the focus they will constantly get from researchers and show more productivity. Thus, researchers must be totally aware of this effect. Continuous monitoring method can also be used in the education sector, such as watching the interaction between teacher and student.
Moreover, you can also use this method in nutrition to record how much a person eats. However, this method is very time-consuming. Thus, you need to allocate a lot of time to data collection.
2. Allocation of time:
Another method for direct observation is time allocation. In this method, researchers randomly select a time and place and then record people’s actions and behaviour before they find out they are being observed. This method can be a useful way to find out how much people are spending time doing certain things such as eating, working and playing with kids. There are many sampling issues with this method as well. Researchers need to have a large sample to get a general idea of how people spend time. Moreover, observing people all the time is very tough. Researchers can overcome this issue by using non-random locations and visiting them randomly at various times.
3. Unobtrusive Observation:
Another method you can use in direct observation is unobtrusive observation. This method deals with the studying of actions or behaviour of people when they do not know that they are being studied or observed. However, it is important to note that issues of validity are a very high concern while using this method. You have to do several observations of a sample to make your findings more general. This is particularly difficult when you are observing a particular group. Groups have certain unique features that could make them very interesting for studies. Thus, such findings are not very strong in the external validity. Moreover, it is not easy to replicate by using this method. Observation of a particular behaviour can be very hard to replicate in research. It is important to note that while using this research, you must carefully avoid the invasion of privacy.
4. Behaviour trace studies:
Another method you can use for direct observation is the behaviour trace study. In this method, you will look for things that people leave behind, and you will interpret the meaning behind those things. From garbage to vandalism, this can be anything. The most well-known study that has used the trace method is a garbage study from the University of Arizona. In this method, researchers look into the garbage of houses to look for things, such as alcohol consumption, waste behaviour and food preferences. This is a kind of unobtrusive study because the people do not have any idea that they are being observed. However, you can support the validity of your research if you keep the identity of people confidential. Using this method in direct observation can give you high-quality data for your research.
5. Disguised Field Observations:
You can also use disguised field observation in direct observation. In this method, the researcher pretends that he is actually a member of the group that is being observed and collected while in disguise. That group will not have any idea that it is being observed for study. Researchers might take some roles to join the group. The observer needs to become a complete participant in the group. You can also choose to just participate casually in the group to collect data. It is important that you are not involved in the group’s important activities as you are only the observer. For instance, if you join a cult for observation, you do not need to participate in their important rituals. However, you need to be considered as a member and you should gain the trust of all cult members. You can also have many ethical issues while using this method. Thus, it is important to consider the degree of confidentiality and the sensitivity of the subject. Nonetheless, this direct observation method will very likely give useful results for the research.
Conclusion:
By using the above methods, you can effectively collect data in direct observation. If you want to observe continuously directly, you should use continuous monitoring. You can use the unobtrusive method if you observe people’s behavior when they do not know they are being studied. Also, the trace method and disguised field observation can also help you get rich data for your study.
