Wk 4 Part 1: Naturalistic Observation and Physical and Virtual Documentary Sources (Online Lecture) Flashcards
What is naturalistic observation?
a qualitative data collection method in which the researcher looks at people in a natural setting in detail over time, systematically studying what goes on, and noting and reporting it.
Analysis for naturalistic observation is ______. What does that mean?
Inductive
- Often presented as a case study
- Data speaks for itself (data generates content and analysis process)
What is inductive analysis?
Data speaks for itself (data generates content and analysis process)
What is deductive analysis?
Pre-determined categories, themes to analysis data
Naturalistic observation has origins in _______ (i.e., cultural) studies of anthropology and sociology, but also used in grounded theory
ethnographic
What are 4 features of enthography?
- Aims to describe and interpret a culture or its subgroups.
- Asks “What is happening here” and “Why is it happening?”
- What is the culture of this group of people? How does culture explain their perspectives and behaviours.
- The ethnographic method typically involves observation and note taking.
What is the aim of enthography?
describe and interpret a culture or its subgroups.
What are 2 questions that ethnography ask?
- “What is happening here”
- “Why is it happening?”
The ethnographic method typically involves _____ and _____ .
observation; note taking
What are 3 characteristics of understanding ethnography?
- Aims to study the way people interact and communicate within certain contexts
- Field notes (incorporate lived experiences)
- Interviews
- Uncovering of multiplicity of experiences as opposed to more quantitative yet ultimately superficial accounts of a community or context
- A researcher’s understanding of the nature of reality
What are 6 examples of of naturalistic observation studies in the health and rehabilitation sciences?
- professional socialisation
- clients learning in rehabilitation settings
- daily routines and workload of therapists
- rehabilitation pathways
- client groups living with chronic pain
- daily lives of residents of care homes
What are the 4 levels of naturalistic participant observations taken on by researchers (participant-observation continuum)?
- Researcher is complete participant ( actively takes part in the setting and may observe covertly)
- Researcher is participant as observer (negotiated into setting and observe own work group)
- What is the involved in the daily life
- Researcher is observer as participant (marginally involved in setting but cannot play a full role)
- Participants know they are there but not an active role
- Researcher is complete observer (no participation in setting but observation only)
- Play no role at all (participants know they are there)- no interactions with participation
What is the aim of naturalistic observation?
to understand what is happening and cultural meanings of what people do (i.e., why they do what they do)
What should be observed from naturalistic observation?
Observe social processes for patterns of behaviour
What are 3 types of recording observations for naturalistic observation?
- field notes and memos of what people do (not just what they say)
- Activities and behaviours
- sometimes use checklists
- Pre-determined (look for certain things) –> deductive
- sometimes audio and video recording
- Increase validity and authenticity (hard evidence)
What is the engagement in naturalistic observation?
Prolonged engagement – 6 months to 2 years, several observations per week
- So can captured the breadth of the environment (eg. different people, cases..etc)
What is the effect of researcher on outcome of the study in naturalistic observation?
Hawthrone effect
What is the Hawthorne effect?
- participants change their behaviour as a result of being observed or studied
- Reactions to researcher’s presence is more of a problem early in study than later, but can still disrupt a study (Might get better after a while (used to it))
- Researcher must avoid comments on individual mistakes or indiscretions. (Don’t look at specific individuals) Instead focus on routine practices and processes
Aim to produce a credible account of social processes
- Hawthorne effect can be a limitation/risk
What are the 3 steps in descriptive, focused and selective observation in naturalistic observation?
- Descriptive – serves to provide the researcher with an orientation to the field under study; non-specific descriptions (general ideas and use of sensory data)- Field notes
- Focused – narrows your perspective on the processes and problems which are most essential for the research question (as as certain aspects or situations become more important)
- Selective – towards the end of the study, focused on finding further evidence and examples for the types of practices and processes found in step 2 (to met the aim of the study)
What are 5 questions when observing ?
- Who? How many? Characteristics and roles?
- What is happening? What are actions and rules of behaviour?
- Where do the interactions take place? Where are people located in the physical space?
- When do conversations and interactions take place? What is the timing of the activities?
- Why do people in the setting act in the way they do? Why are there variations in behaviour?
What are the 5 advantages of participant observation?
- Immediacy of data – not reliant of participants’ recollections
- Less disruptive than interviews
- Open settings (e.g., streets, hospital receptions) are easy to access
- Others in setting quickly forget about the presence of observer
- Low tech method increases use
What are the 5 disadvantages of participant observation?
- Needs extended periods of observation
- Closed settings (e.g., therapy session) may be difficult to access
- Ethical issues if covertly observing others (e.g., clients)
- May be difficult to know what is important and what is unimportant to document
- Need to manage relationships
