A tool of data collectionA tool of data collectionDr. Arpita Sharma

Assistant Professor,GBPUA&T, Pantnagar

ObservationObservation• A basic tool of information gatheringA basic tool of information gathering• The act of apprehending things and The act of apprehending things and

events their attributesevents their attributes• Concrete relationshipConcrete relationship• Direct awareness of our own mental Direct awareness of our own mental

awarenessawareness• An act of recognizing and noting An act of recognizing and noting

some fact or occurrencesome fact or occurrence

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• Selection of scientific featuresSelection of scientific features• Actual occurrence of social eventsActual occurrence of social events• Data are related to real life situationData are related to real life situation• All social phenomena are not open to All social phenomena are not open to

observeobserve

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• Used in variety of research purposesUsed in variety of research purposes• ExploratoryExploratory• ExperimentalExperimental• Apply to real life situationApply to real life situation

Four important Four important dimensionsdimensions

• What is to be observed?What is to be observed?• How to record observation?How to record observation?• How to ensure the accuracy of How to ensure the accuracy of

observation?observation?• What should be the relation between What should be the relation between

observer and observed?observer and observed?

Scientific techniqueScientific technique

• Is planned and recorded Is planned and recorded systematicallysystematically

• Formulated research planFormulated research plan• To check and controls on validity To check and controls on validity

and reliabilityand reliability

Concept of observationConcept of observation

• Observational methods of Data collection are Observational methods of Data collection are techniques for gathering information without techniques for gathering information without direct questioning on the part of direct questioning on the part of investigator.investigator.

• Methodological way of looking at the Methodological way of looking at the behavior of others in a specific situation and behavior of others in a specific situation and recording the same thoroughly in some form recording the same thoroughly in some form of other.of other.

Characteristics of scientific Characteristics of scientific observationobservation

• SpecificSpecific• SystematicSystematic• QualitativeQualitative• Recorded immediatelyRecorded immediately

Participant observationParticipant observation• Investigator conceals his real purposeInvestigator conceals his real purpose• A group member or community memberA group member or community member• True feelings of all the activities True feelings of all the activities

through participantsthrough participants• Record the natural behaviorRecord the natural behavior• Depth of dataDepth of data• No biasnessNo biasness

Advantages of Participant Advantages of Participant observationobservation

• Natural conditionNatural condition• Minute and hidden factMinute and hidden fact• Intimate detailIntimate detail

Limitation of Participant Limitation of Participant observationobservation

• Researcher become emotional, gets Researcher become emotional, gets biased and with the result forget to biased and with the result forget to record many important detail.record many important detail.

• Observe the members who are Observe the members who are nearernearer

• Lose objectivityLose objectivity• fail to note certain important detailfail to note certain important detail

Non Participant Non Participant observationobservation

• Physical isolationPhysical isolation• Psychological isolationPsychological isolation• Natural stateNatural state• Researcher need not actually Researcher need not actually

participate in the people’s activityparticipate in the people’s activity• Very difficultVery difficult

Advantages of Non Participant Advantages of Non Participant observationobservation

• Complete, purely scientific and Complete, purely scientific and objective method of data collectionobjective method of data collection

• Mission of data is not possibleMission of data is not possible• Natural condition of observing the Natural condition of observing the

behavior is maintained.behavior is maintained.• Best in quasi-participant detailBest in quasi-participant detail

Limitation of non participant Limitation of non participant observationobservation

• Faulty interpretationFaulty interpretation• Some activities are not visibleSome activities are not visible

Controlled observationControlled observation

• Standardization of observation Standardization of observation techniquestechniques

• To check any bias due to faulty To check any bias due to faulty perception, incomplete information perception, incomplete information and effect of external stimuli on and effect of external stimuli on specific situationspecific situation

• Use in experimental researchUse in experimental research

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• Control over phenomenaControl over phenomena• Control over observationControl over observation

Advantages of Controlled Advantages of Controlled observationobservation

• Greater depthGreater depth• Help in verification of dataHelp in verification of data• Standard techniqueStandard technique• Extraneous variable are controlledExtraneous variable are controlled

Uncontrolled observationUncontrolled observation

• Natural conditionNatural condition• No check or controlNo check or control• May be biasedMay be biased• Suitable for Exploratory researchesSuitable for Exploratory researches

Guidelines for data Guidelines for data collectioncollection

• Physical environment of the village Physical environment of the village • centre of community lifecentre of community life• AgricultureAgriculture• Intra group organizationIntra group organization• LeadershipLeadership• Relationship with other communityRelationship with other community• Informal controlInformal control• List of problemList of problem

Physical environment of the Physical environment of the village village

• What are the most striking What are the most striking characteristics of the physical characteristics of the physical environment?environment?

• Do the topographical features seem Do the topographical features seem to divide the area?to divide the area?

• Does it reveal the history of the Does it reveal the history of the community?community?

Centers of community lifeCenters of community life

• Where is the market located?Where is the market located?• Are there recreational center?Are there recreational center?• Where are religious institution?Where are religious institution?• Are there educational institution?Are there educational institution?

AgricultureAgriculture

• General view of farmGeneral view of farm• Improved variety of seedImproved variety of seed• General idea of farming systemGeneral idea of farming system• General condition or problemsGeneral condition or problems

Intra group organizationIntra group organization

• How much overlapping among the How much overlapping among the groupgroup

• What kind of relationship exist What kind of relationship exist among the group members?among the group members?

• How active member are there?How active member are there?• What relationship exist among the What relationship exist among the

old and new members of the group?old and new members of the group?

LeadershipLeadership

• What is the leadership pattern?What is the leadership pattern?• Does the members have confidence Does the members have confidence

in the leader?in the leader?• What circumstances gave the What circumstances gave the

individual his first opportunity to individual his first opportunity to display qualities of leadership?display qualities of leadership?

FactionsFactions• Are there factions in the group?Are there factions in the group?• Clashes between the groupClashes between the group• How was conflict resolved?How was conflict resolved?

Informal controlsInformal controls• What rituals and ceremonies have What rituals and ceremonies have

been established?been established?• What rules and law are stressed?What rules and law are stressed?• What is the attitude towards women What is the attitude towards women

participation in social organization?participation in social organization?• What interest do the entire family What interest do the entire family

share?share?

Listing of the problemsListing of the problems• DiaryDiary• Personal record of eventsPersonal record of events• Continuous chronological account of Continuous chronological account of

eventevent• Natural condition of eventNatural condition of event