Observation Method tools
Not what you're looking for?
Please describe what the study tool of observation is? Please provide references.
Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary
Through discussion and example, this solution described the study tool of observation. References are provided.
Solution Preview
1. Describe the study tool of observation?
The observation method is a qualitative research technique (tool) in which the behavior of research subjects is watched and recorded with or without any direct contact or interaction.
www.glencoe.com/sec/busadmin/marketing/dp/mktg_resrch/gloss.shtml
It is one of the most common qualitative data collection methods, which can be used separately or in combination with interviews, or document analysis. The collected data allow the researchers to observe, as clearly as possible, the social interactions or behavior that they seek to describe. There are several different types of observation methods involved in field observation:
i) Field observation
The purpose of field observation is to record social phenomena directly and prospectively. There are 2 basic approaches: direct observation by investigators themselves, and indirect observation through audio or video recording. In direct observation, investigators spend time in the social milieu they are studying and record observations in the form of detailed field notes or journals. Observational techniques are categorized according to the role of the investigator in the setting (i.e., "non-participant" or "participant") observation. Field analysis techniques require investigators to explicitly consider how their presence might influence their findings.
In non-participant observation, the researcher stays relatively uninvolved in the social interactions she observes. The crucial question for critical appraisal is whether in the particular social ...
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Managed Care Organizations
This quiz will test the basics of managed care organizations. It is important to know how our health care delivery system operates through managed care.
Labor and Delivery
Do you know about the stages of delivery? Find out with this quiz!
Celiac Disease
This quiz will provide a brief introduction to Celiac Disease. Questions will focus on definitions and symptoms.
Test your health planning and program evaluation knowledge
Health planning and program evaluation is an important aspect of the Health Sciences' field. Organizations and communities must understand the needs of their audiences, and a way to obtain this datum is through proper design and assessment. This quiz will test your ability to understand the importance of planning and evaluation in the health sector.
Crohn's Disease
How much do you know about this condition?