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Research Methods > Observation In Practice > Flashcards

Observation In Practice Flashcards

1
Q

What does observation consist of?

A
  • Investigators systematically watched, listens to and records the phenomenon of interest
  • study their surrounding regularly + repeatedly with a curiosity spurred by theoretical questions about the nature of human action, interaction and society
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2
Q

What is the advantages of observation?

A
  • can be used in both types of research
  • enables the study of behaviour within subjects natural environment
  • different observer roles can be adopted (participant or non participant)
  • doesn’t rely on memory recall
  • potentially overcomes discrepancies between actual + reported practice
  • makes accessible subjects not accessible via other methods
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3
Q

What are the 2 types of observation?

A

Structured and unstructured observation

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4
Q

What are the advantages of structured observation?

A
  • observation schedule
  • rigour
  • reliability
  • validity
  • external validity
  • objectivity
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5
Q

What are the advantages of unstructured observation?

A
  • researcher as instrument
  • trustworthiness
  • dependability
  • credibility
  • transferability
  • confirmability
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6
Q

What are Gold’s typology 4 types of observation?

A
  • complete participant
  • participant as observer
  • observer as participant
  • complete observer
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7
Q

What is complete participant?

A
  • working as part of the group being studied

- covert: role as researcher is concealed

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8
Q

What is participant as observer?

A
  • working as part of the group being studied
  • negotiated their role and all parties aware of this
  • consent obtained from all gate keepers
  • may be for long periods of time
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9
Q

What is observer as participant?

A
  • only marginally involved
  • everyone is aware of the role
  • consent obtained from all gatekeepers
  • may be intermittent
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10
Q

What is complete observer?

A
  • “fly on the wall”
  • distant and doesn’t interact with group
  • in person, video and one way mirrors
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11
Q

What is important when carrying out observational research?

A
  • gaining access
  • gaining consent
  • sampling
  • recording observations (field notes)
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12
Q

What do you include in field notes?

A
  • environment (layout + objects)
  • people (activities, behaviours, interactions)
  • dialogue + linguistic behaviours
  • events
  • timing + sequence
  • personal reflexive diary
  • method + timing of recording field notes
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13
Q

What is observation schedule?

A
  • a “checklist” for collecting and recording data
  • process of developing a schedule
  • expert panel
  • validity and reliability testing
  • pre pilot and pilot work
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14
Q

What are the quality issues with observations?

A
  • Hawthorne effect
  • halo effect
  • “going native”
  • role conflict
  • fatigue
  • “impression management” being an “acceptable marginal member or acceptable incompetent”
  • reflexivity
  • ending relationships, debriefing + feedback
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15
Q

What are the characteristics of non-participant structured observation?

A
  • positive perspective
  • identity of researcher is known
  • enhances the potential for behaviour to proceed as usual
  • facilitates effective observer performance
  • preferred role for continuous observational sampling
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16
Q

What do you observe with a structured observation?

A
  • operationally defining the concept
  • clarify the meaning of the concept
  • clarify how it can be observed and recorded
  • identify observable behaviours in advanced
17
Q

What is the definition of observation?

A

A tool for understanding more than what people say about complex situations and can help to understand these complex situations more fully

18
Q

How do you record data in a structured observation?

A
  • development + testing of a structured observation schedule
  • collection of structured data
  • making field notes
  • learn to observe analytically
19
Q

Why does learning to observe analytically as a skill take time to develop?

A

Knowing what to look for and how to reflect on what is seen

20
Q

What are the different sampling types of observational sampling?

A
  • time sampling
  • all occurrences/event sampling
  • focal-subject sampling
21
Q

What is time sampling?

A

Occurrence or non-occurrence of behaviours during each time period (Reid et al)

22
Q

What is all occurrences/event sampling?

A
  • all behaviours related to a specific event (Carr)

- knowledge about event occurrence/time to wait for occurrence (Day)

23
Q

What is focal-subject sampling?

A

All occurrences of behaviour of an individual or group are continuously observed (Thomas, Morse & Bottorff)

24
Q

What is an example of a observation data collection instrument?

A

Nurse Performance Scale

25
Q

How do you develop a valid and reliable observational data collection instrument?

A
  • use inter observer and internal consistency testing

- can also use this for content, construct, discriminant and convergent validity

26
Q

What is content validity?

A

Does the tool measure what it is supposed to measure?

27
Q

What strategies enhance content validity?

A
  • concept analysis
  • preliminary observation
  • expert panel
  • pilot work
28
Q

What is included in observer performance?

A
  • observer reliability
  • observer drift
  • observation requires accuracy in perception of detail
29
Q

What is observer reliability?

A

Consistency of observer performance

30
Q

What is observer drift?

A
  • instability in recording over repeated period of observation
  • due to forgetting, new learning, fatigue
31
Q

What strategies help to enhance observer performance?

A
  • observer training
  • inter-observer reliability testing
  • observer field notes and discussion during the data collection period
32
Q

What is the reactive effect?

A
  • Effect of observer on subject performance
  • a validity and reliability threat
  • ethical concern associated with responding to urgent needs
33
Q

What are the contributing factors to the reactive effect?

A
  • intrusiveness of observer
  • interacting with the environment
  • observer and subject attributes
  • explanation of the study
  • methods of data collection
34
Q

How do you minimise reactive effects?

A
  • adopt a rigorous approach to setting up the study in the fuel setting and making yourself known
  • observer training during pre pilot and pilot world
  • attention to observer dress
  • observing discreetly and unobtrusively (focus on subjects)
  • period of acclimatisation
  • observation on repeated occasions
35
Q

What is the permissible interaction?

A
  • influences “normal” events
  • results in loss of data
  • contaminated data
  • not to interact may result in alienation of the researcher in the field setting
36
Q

What is permissible intervention?

A
  • conflict between research role as observer and role as a health care professional
  • potential bias by intervening
  • anticipate dilemmas before entering field notes
  • develop a protocol of permissible intervention

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