Who should observe and who should record?

Question 1

Three possible people

Answer 1

Researchers , assistant researchers and those that are the subject of the research
Each brings to the task different
skills
experience
knowledge
opportunities
costs

Question 2

Each one in turn professional researchers

Answer 2

Advantages
understand the research study
able to adapt and fine tune their observations to meet research objectives
have observational and analytical skills
allowing accurate/appropriate observations, interpretations and recording

Question 3

Assistant researchers/enumerators

Answer 3

They
cannot be expected to understand the study the same as professional researchers
do not own the research and therefore their motivation is not always high
may use short cuts resulting in observational and recording errors
may fabricate data

To balance these points
training and supervision can assist
use standardized equipment and techniques
observation and recording by the same person

Question 4

Insiders within the system under study

Answer 4

Advantages
are involved and may have intimate knowledge of their situations
opportunities for observation are often more readily available to them

Disadvantages
may be unwilling to make observations or provide information on some topics or in the form required by the study
may be difficult to standardize observations
may have reasons to provide misleading data if they think the data they are providing may affect decisions
they must be able to observe - example do not ask men to observe cooking if they do not do any cooking.
literacy problems esp in rural communities in developing countries some visual techniques have been developed that can overcome a part of this

Question 5

Examples of insiders

Answer 5

They may be using diaries or self completed questionnaires