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Observational Research
697 Qualitative Research
February 20, 2008
By: Eddie Gose, Mark Hines, Lisa Waters
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What is observational research?
• Observation of people in action• Act of recording that which is being observed• Roots in ethnographic research• Goal is to help the researcher learn
perspectives held by participants (Mack, et al., 2005)
• Used in conjunction with other methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, content analysis)
Theory behind the method
• Need details
How do we go about it?
• Participative
• Covertly
• Overtly
Pros & Cons
Pros• Flexible• Directly measures
behavior• Gives researcher
“insider” view• Allows for morphing
of study• Open-ended
Cons• Time consuming• Difficult to record
everything• Subjective• Participants may not act in
true nature• Hard to be an “insider” • Invasive & intrusive• Not generalizable• Can’t measure cognitive or
affective
Forms of data collection
• Field notes
• Video
• Audio
• Transcripts
• Need more
Phases of observational research
• Phase 1: develop positive relationships with participants, gatekeeper, etc.
• Phase 2: improve design, refocus, redefine questions after initial observations (may be ongoing)
• Phase 3: select additional participants as necessary
• Phase 4: follow up and probe deeper
Ethical Considerations
• How much do you disclose? Depends on type of research you are doing! Covert? Overt? Participative?
• Make your intentions clear to participants• Get informed consent• Develop a “code of practice”• Maintain confidentiality
How to be an effective observer
• Know what you’re researching!• Check in with your lens, biases, experiences and
expectations -- have a blank mind (Goldbart, J. & Hustler, D., 2004, p. 18)
• Know the culture• Rehearse how you’ll explain your purpose• Document what you observe without expectations! • Summarize and expand on field notes as soon as possible• Decide how you’ll observe • Be open to “research problem reformulation” (Goldbart, J.
& Hustler, D., 2004, p. 18)
Tips for conduction observational research
• Find an “informant”
• Field notes should include accounts of event, behaviors, reactions, conversations, physical gestures, etc.
• Go where people are engaged in their daily lives (Mack, et al., 2005)
What to observe
(Mack, et al., 2005)
On your mark, get set, observe!
• Add the other two videos here -- give them the same instructions as we did at beginning of the PPT -- only this time, they need to employ what they have learned.
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Add the other video
What did you learn?
Rap up
References and Bibliography
Mack, N., Woodsong, C., MacQueen, K.M., Guest, G., & Namey, E. (2005). Qualitative research methods: A data collector’s field guide. Research Triangle Park, NC: Family Health International.