Observation Studies Of Evaluation And Institutional Research

Running head: Observation Studies (Revised) Observation Studies in Evaluation and Institutional Research Observation Methodology Paper PSYC – 724C James Campbell When is it appropriate to use the observation method to conduct research on subjects? Clearly, a number of questions that researchers want or need to address relating to human behaviors or actions cannot be addressed or answered by traditional research methods. One of the best ways to answer a number of these questions is the use of observation. Observational research is best used when the following factors are recognized and accommodation made to address them: Such factors are: †¢ Reducing the effects of the observer on the observed, to ensure the true†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Is the researcher using a set of guides, field notes, recording sheets and an established coding system to ensure the best results? †¢ Should a digital record or video record be used to document body language and visual or audio responses? †¢ Do the participants being observed truly represent the population being generalized in the study? Can the participants provide the answers needed in the research questions being study? †¢ Do the observers provide enough time to truly record the real responses of the participants? †¢ Does the environment help or hinder the observer’s observations? Will this environment best represent and illuminate the social meanings or shared culture of the persons being studied? †¢ Does the questions being asked totally represent the perspectives of the group being observed? Are the social interactions at the observation rich enough to represent the complexity of the questions being asked or the people being observed? †¢ If the researcher doesn’t have to depend on other persons’ observations, can electronic devises ethnically be used? This is a great help to the research methodology; †¢ Is the greatest number of possible biases or filtered personal lens noted up front and labeled in the limitations part of the study? †¢ Lastly, the method being used is costly and time consuming. A high level of skill and precision is needed for using and collecting field notes, creating