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.