Applied research skills
Task 1
Q1. Describe the key purpose of observation, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of
this research approach to collecting data.
Observation
Observation refers to a natural technique of obtaining an in depth information through noticing
the actions and behavior. It usually includes identifying, judging and responding over a situation
to gather information. The observation is considered as the key stone in studies and research. It is
commonly used to perceive, what we monitor, and thus elaborating the launch of the advance
research.
The goal of executing observation is to carry out non-experimental studies, in which actions and
behaviors of the individuals or groups are comprehensively examined and recognized. The data
collection method through observation relies on various concerns i.e. who notices and how
frequently, who are the other witnesses, who will get benefit from the data collected, the range of
observation (where it is performed) and what are the effects of observations (Malderez, A. 2003).
The observational research methods have several advantages and disadvantages based on their
methodology (Sekaran, U., 2016) described as follows:
Advantages of observation
Truthfulness: the observation enables the researcher to collect data based on regular
behaviors, without allowing the participants to know they are being watched. Researcher
carry out observation in the natural working territory and notices the actual activities of
the participants which are further assessed and inferred for the research. In this
observation participants react in more genuine way thus making the collected data more
accurate.
Determination of situations: observational studies have made easy to decide the
situational factors involving in the collection of data. Different circumstances like
weather, the day of the week, the trades of the product, traffic arrangements etc. have
effect on behavior and actions of the participants being observed. So the information
, collected based on these factors of situations can be noted to generate expressive patterns
for research.
Precision: in observational study we can watch and notice a particular group of
personalities. Like a group of children can be observed that can help children item’s
companies and child instructors, daycare administrators to develop methods to fulfill
children’s interest.
Organized observation: when the observation is conducted in a well-defined and
procedural manner without the partaking of researcher, a limited set of behaviors are
noticed. This observation i.e. structured observation is used to highlight the quantitative
data (Levine, R. V. 1999). For instance, the researchers assessed the speed of pedestrian
walking in different countries, among different groups of people. Their research was
focused on the particular behavior of the population, concentrating in a limited scenario
and thus generated quantitative analysis. Therefore, validity in this observation is higher
than other observational approaches.
Un-organized observation: when the observation is carried out randomly without
specifying the conditions. In this observation, wide range of behaviors can be monitored
generating vast and rich data.
Participant observation as ethical way: it is the type of observation in which the observer
immerse itself into the social group to acquire the motives and behaviors of the
participants. The participants know the presence of observer, so this do not hurt their
ethics.
Disadvantages of observation
Reactivity: it can be described as an attempt capable of changing the participant’s
behavior. When the people sense that they are being watched and noticed, they may
change their behavior and will definitely act differently. It can affect the situation under
observation and hence evidenced to be a key danger to the accuracy of the observational
results. Therefore, an observation must be less reactive to be considered as more valid.
Observer bias: this term refers to the systematic alteration between the actual value and
the value observed. It occurs due to the discrepancy made by observer during the
Task 1
Q1. Describe the key purpose of observation, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of
this research approach to collecting data.
Observation
Observation refers to a natural technique of obtaining an in depth information through noticing
the actions and behavior. It usually includes identifying, judging and responding over a situation
to gather information. The observation is considered as the key stone in studies and research. It is
commonly used to perceive, what we monitor, and thus elaborating the launch of the advance
research.
The goal of executing observation is to carry out non-experimental studies, in which actions and
behaviors of the individuals or groups are comprehensively examined and recognized. The data
collection method through observation relies on various concerns i.e. who notices and how
frequently, who are the other witnesses, who will get benefit from the data collected, the range of
observation (where it is performed) and what are the effects of observations (Malderez, A. 2003).
The observational research methods have several advantages and disadvantages based on their
methodology (Sekaran, U., 2016) described as follows:
Advantages of observation
Truthfulness: the observation enables the researcher to collect data based on regular
behaviors, without allowing the participants to know they are being watched. Researcher
carry out observation in the natural working territory and notices the actual activities of
the participants which are further assessed and inferred for the research. In this
observation participants react in more genuine way thus making the collected data more
accurate.
Determination of situations: observational studies have made easy to decide the
situational factors involving in the collection of data. Different circumstances like
weather, the day of the week, the trades of the product, traffic arrangements etc. have
effect on behavior and actions of the participants being observed. So the information
, collected based on these factors of situations can be noted to generate expressive patterns
for research.
Precision: in observational study we can watch and notice a particular group of
personalities. Like a group of children can be observed that can help children item’s
companies and child instructors, daycare administrators to develop methods to fulfill
children’s interest.
Organized observation: when the observation is conducted in a well-defined and
procedural manner without the partaking of researcher, a limited set of behaviors are
noticed. This observation i.e. structured observation is used to highlight the quantitative
data (Levine, R. V. 1999). For instance, the researchers assessed the speed of pedestrian
walking in different countries, among different groups of people. Their research was
focused on the particular behavior of the population, concentrating in a limited scenario
and thus generated quantitative analysis. Therefore, validity in this observation is higher
than other observational approaches.
Un-organized observation: when the observation is carried out randomly without
specifying the conditions. In this observation, wide range of behaviors can be monitored
generating vast and rich data.
Participant observation as ethical way: it is the type of observation in which the observer
immerse itself into the social group to acquire the motives and behaviors of the
participants. The participants know the presence of observer, so this do not hurt their
ethics.
Disadvantages of observation
Reactivity: it can be described as an attempt capable of changing the participant’s
behavior. When the people sense that they are being watched and noticed, they may
change their behavior and will definitely act differently. It can affect the situation under
observation and hence evidenced to be a key danger to the accuracy of the observational
results. Therefore, an observation must be less reactive to be considered as more valid.
Observer bias: this term refers to the systematic alteration between the actual value and
the value observed. It occurs due to the discrepancy made by observer during the
