\n\n<\/span>Observation<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n- Lindsey Gardner\u00a0<\/strong>has defined observation as \u201cselection, provocation, recording and encoding of that set of behaviours and settings concerning organisms \u2018in situ\u2019 (naturalistic settings or familiar surroundings) which are consistent with empirical aims\u201d. In this definition,<\/span>\n
\n- Selection means that there is a focus in observation and also editing before, during and after the observations are made.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Provocation means that though observers do not destroy natural settings but they can make subtle changes in natural settings which increase clarity.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Recording means that the observed incidents\/events are recorded for subsequent analysis. Encoding involves simplification of records.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Characteristics of Observation<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Scientific observation differs from other methods of data collection specifically in\u00a0four ways:<\/strong><\/span>\n
\n- Observation is always direct while other methods could be direct or indirect;<\/span><\/li>\n
- Field observation takes place in a natural setting;<\/span><\/li>\n
- Observations tend to be less structured; and<\/span><\/li>\n
- It makes only the qualitative (and not the quantitative) study which aims at discovering subjects\u2019 experiences and how subjects make sense of them (phenomenology) or how subjects understand their life (interpretive).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
- Loft land has said that this method is more appropriate for studying lifestyles or sub-cultures, practices, episodes, encounters, relationships, groups, organizations, settlements and roles, etc.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Purpose of Observation<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- To capture human conduct as it actually happens. In other methods, we get a static comprehension of people\u2019s activity.<\/span><\/li>\n
- In actual situation, they sometimes modify their views, sometimes contradict themselves, and sometimes are so swayed away by the situation that they react differently altogether, e.g., clerks\u2019 behaviour in office; tone of voice, facial expressions and content of slogans by the demonstrators.<\/span><\/li>\n
- To provide more graphic description of social life than can be acquired in other ways. For example, how do women behave when they are physically assaulted by their husbands? How do young widows behave when they are humiliated, harassed and exploited by the in-laws? How are bounded labourers treated by their landlords?<\/span><\/li>\n
- To explore important events and situations. There are many instances when little is known. about the topic\/issue. By being on the scene, issues that might otherwise be overlooked are examined more carefully, e.g., visiting office soon after the office hours and finding that the married men and single women were working overtime and single men and married women had gone home.<\/span><\/li>\n
- It can be used as a tool of collecting information in situations where methods other than observation cannot prove to be useful, e.g., workers\u2019 behaviour during strike.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Types of Observation<\/span><\/h3>\nParticipant and non-participant observation:<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Participant observation<\/strong><\/mark><\/span>\n
\n- This is a method in which the investigator becomes a part of the situation he is studying. He involves himself in the setting and group life of the research subjects. He shares the activities of the community observing what is going on around him, supplementing this by conversations and interview.<\/span><\/li>\n
- In India, M.N. Srinivas had used this method in studying the process of \u2018sanskritisation\u2019 in Mysore while Andre Beteille had used it to study social inequality in rural areas (Tanjore village) on the basis of class, status and power.<\/span>
\n![\"Observation\"](\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/slide_2-150x113.jpg\") <\/span><\/li>\n- The weaknesses in this type (participant) of observation are:<\/mark><\/strong><\/span>\n
\n- Since the observer participates in events, sometimes he becomes so involved that he loses objectivity in observation;<\/span><\/li>\n
- He influences the events;<\/span><\/li>\n
- He interprets events subjectively;<\/span><\/li>\n
- His presence so sensitizes the subjects that they do not act in a natural way;<\/span><\/li>\n
- He may record some information but may fail to record other information as well as to explain reasons why information was not recorded.<\/span><\/li>\n
- He fails to be precise about the procedures for data accumulation;<\/span><\/li>\n
- Since he fails to specify the procedures for gathering information, others cannot replicate his research findings for verification and validity;<\/span><\/li>\n
- There is less attention to precision; and<\/span><\/li>\n
- This method cannot be used for studies where people indulge in illegal activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- In non-participant observation<\/mark><\/strong>,<\/span>\n
\n- The observer remains detached and does not participate or intervene in the activities of those who are being observed.<\/span><\/li>\n
- He merely observes their behaviour. Sometimes this places the persons being observed in an awkward position and their conduct becomes unnatural.<\/span><\/li>\n
- But some say that though initially the observer\u2019s behaviour may affect the behaviour of the observed but after a little while, less and less attention is paid to his presence.<\/span><\/li>\n
- This type of observation is more useful as a tool of data collection because the observer can choose the situations to be observed and can record the data freely.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Systematic\/unsystematic observation:<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Reiss (1971)\u00a0<\/strong>has classified observation as systematic and unsystematic on the basis of the ability of the observational data to generate scientifically useful information.<\/span>\n
\n- The systematic observation<\/mark>\u00a0<\/mark><\/strong>is one in which explicit procedure is used in observation and recording by following certain rules, which permits the use of logic, and which makes replication possible.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The unsystematic observation does<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0not follow any rules or logic which makes replication difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Naive and scientific observation:<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Na\u00efve observation<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0is unstructured and unplanned observation.<\/span><\/li>\n
- It becomes scientific when it is systematically planned and executed, when it is related to a certain goal, and when it is subjected to tests and controls.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Structured and unstructured observation:<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Structured observation<\/mark>\u00a0<\/mark><\/strong>is organized and planned which employs formal procedure, has a set of well-defined observation categories, and is subjected to high levels of control and differentiation.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Unstructured observation<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0is loosely organized and the process is largely left to the observer to define.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Natural and laboratory observation:<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Natural observation<\/mark>\u00a0<\/mark><\/strong>is one in which observation is made in natural settings.<\/span><\/li>\n
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