Mixing Methods in Social Research by Ralph Hall

Author:Ralph Hall [Hall, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Research, Reference
ISBN: 9781526453297
Google: z9zQDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: SAGE
Published: 2020-02-24T05:25:23+00:00

10 Collecting Data Using Observational Methods

Introduction

Observational research, often referred to as field research, involves observing events or situations as they occur. The events observed may be natural events as they occur in the real world, such as children interacting in a playground, or events set up by the researcher such as a group discussion.

Observational research is a data collection procedure used in case studies, ethnographic research and experimental research. In case studies, observational research is often conducted along with interviews of people having some special relationship to the subject of the case study. In ethnographic research, observational study of interactions among members of the family, group or community being the subject of the ethnography can be used to provide an alternative perspective to data obtained from documents or interviews, and in experimental research observations can form the major data collection method. In these cases, the observations form one or more of the data collection procedures, whereas the case study, ethnography or experiment are the research methods employed as outlined in Part 2 of this book.

Observational methods can be contrasted with self-report methods. In observational research, the researchers observe situations as they occur, whereas in self-report methods, such as self-completion questionnaires or interviews, the researcher asks the participants to report their experiences or describe events as they perceive them.

An advantage claimed for observational research is that it does not rely on participants telling us what has happened, since we observe what is happening directly. In this way, we avoid potential biases being introduced by relying on the honesty or accuracy of the perceptions of the participants. This advantage does not apply if the information being sought from participants is their attitudes, opinions or knowledge since these are matters that cannot be observed.

A problem with observational research is that it relies on the skill of the observer to record and report on the events being observed accurately and without bias.

In this chapter, observational methods will be outlined and discussed and their use in mixed-methods research considered.

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