Reseach methods  - Observation

Last week we looked at one method of research – asking people by means of a questionnaire survey.  To remind you, we found there were four basic ways of research – asking, watching, trying, and reading.  Today we are going to focus on the “watching” method, but before we do, I think we need to take a step back and consider a very important question: What is science?  I want to consider this question, because I have discovered from reading your arguments that perhaps we are not necessarily coming from a common background in terms of this question, and it is an important question to consider in that “scientific methods of research” are generally considered to be by far the strongest support for a thesis in western university tradition.

So, I want you in pairs or threes to quickly consider a definition for science:  1) How would you define “science” for a child?  2) How would you explain science for a dictionary?  3) What is a scientific method?  Give some specific examples.

So, which of these would you consider to be a “science”? (history, chemistry, physics, astronomy, astrology, writing, painting, archaeology, biology, marketing, accounting etc.)

Good, now, observation is a key word in the study of science – we observe what happens in certain circumstances, and then record what we have observed.  Observation may seem to be a very objective and scientific method of researching and understanding a phenomenon, BUT, we must not conclude this so simply.

One of the problems with observation, even of places that we are very familiar with, is that we tend to notice certain things, and ignore, overlook, or simply forget about other things!    What things did you overlook? What things did you forget?  What things did you get wrong??

In the social sciences, which most of you will be involved in, observation is not as simple as observing a rock.  There are usually considered to be two extremes in terms of observing human activity – or social and cultural activity, which is what most of you will be doing.

1)      (undisclosed) Participant

2)      Participant as observer

3)      Observer as participant

4)      Outside (invisible) observer.

Example: this class

1.       student who observes and reports without teacher or other students noticing (spy)

2.       student who tells everyone she or he is observing and reporting on the class

3.       English department dean who comes to watch the class – we know she is watching and recording

4.       dean who stands outside the door and watches without any of us knowing.

In pairs or threes, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods of observation, and give an example when you think each one would be most appropriate.  Remember, we are talking about research which involves living, social and cultural humans in some way or another – not rocks or bones.  Are there any problems or advantages that several or all the problems have in common?

Many examples of research will of course contain a combination of direct and participant observation, and even of interviews or surveys.  For example, in my first year in university I did some courses in sociology, and one of my research projects was to try to understand the eating habits of students who live in flats.  So, this research involved me 1) carefully observing my flatmates, to see what they ate, when they ate, etc.  I was alos a flat member, so I had to record my own diet as well.  Then, I interviewed my flatmates, to discover their attitudes to what they ate – what they thought about the food they ate, how much it cost them, whether they were happy with their diet etc.  Then, I had to reflect on my own attitudes.  Finally, I had to write a report to discuss what the results of my research could show about flat students’ eating habits.