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Types of observations
There are different types of observations. For example, as an observer, you can participate more or less in the observed situation and the observation can be done in a more or less structured way.
There are four types of observations:
Participant observation
The non-participating observation
Structured observation
Unstructured observation
1. Participant observation
Participant observation consists, for the investigator, of being part of the context in which the behavior of an individual is studied. It is also possible to interact with the person (s) observed to ask questions.
In participant observation a distinction can be made between: observation where the observed people know that the observer is observing them or the observation where the people do not know.
The advantage of this type of observation is to be able to bring a questioning which can deliver additional information.
On the other hand, by intervening, or by being visible, the observer can modify the behavior of the person observed.
Participatory observation is mainly used when you want to gain detailed information about a particular culture, a group of people, or the behavior of individuals.
Example
To answer the question “how to explain the ill-being of police officers at work?”, The participant observation will aim to observe the working conditions of police officers. You could then ask questions about certain aspects encountered during your observation in a police station.
2. The nonparticipant observation
The non-participating observation excludes the interviewer from the social framework studied. It is not seen by the observed individual (s) and may use video images.
This type of observation makes it possible not to influence the observed situation: it remains faithful to the reality of the phenomenon studied, which increases the reliability of the results.
This observation technique is useful for defining a research subject, in order to form the basis of a research. Nonparticipant observation can be followed by other research methods later.
However, it does not allow the investigator to intervene. It is possible to miss certain information.
Nonparticipant observation is a method you can use to draw the initial picture of a situation. A lot of research on certain topics has yet to be done, so a first look can be very helpful. This allows you to define the research topic and forms the basis for any follow-up research with other research methods.
Example
Within the framework of the dissertation on the ill-being of police officers at work, the research work can begin with a non-participating observation of a police station. This can raise questions that a subsequent oral interview can resolve.
3. Structured (or systematic) observation
Structured observation (also called “systematic” observation) includes clearly defined rules formulated upstream for carrying out the observation.
Like an interview guide for conducting a directive interview, the rules are specified in an observation diagram.
The observation pattern allows you to place the observations into certain categories that you determined before collecting the data. This is useful so as not to lose the thread of your observation. Like a reminder, this tool summarizes the scope of the observation: duration, observation to be made, information to be obtained or verified.
Structured observation is used when a problem needs to be formulated precisely. This observation serves to verify certain hypotheses.
The rules of observation that you conduct allow you to make your job easier. For example by determining a fixed schedule, you will be able to compare and categorize the observations made. Which is easier to draw a conclusion.
Each observation should be made in exactly the same way. This can sometimes be difficult, especially if there are several observers. If the observations are not made in the same way, this can have important consequences on the conclusions.
Example
On the subject “how are refugees welcomed in France?”, The observation plan can allow you to organize your observation in a reception center.
4. Unstructured observation
Unstructured observation allows for the precise observation of an individual's behavior.
Through this observation technique, the investigator collects as much information as possible without an observation scheme. The interest of this observation is to produce a narrative report of the observed behavior.
Unstructured observation provides an overview of the situation or behavior to be studied.
However, there is a risk of making erroneous and unscientific interpretations.
Example
For a thesis on the reception of refugees in France, the unstructured observation aims to take as many notes as possible, based on situations or dialogues heard, for example, in a reception center.
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