Elite Research Statistical Consulting

At the heart of your research is the data or information that you need to answer your research questions and achieve your research goals. You may require direct interaction with people, tangible experiences, or indirect information found in a museum. Each type of data collected has unique procedures in which we can provide expert advice.

Observation

What is it? Observation is a method of using one’s senses to understand what is occurring in relation to a research topic. An example of observation is paying attention to sounds and movements of a person who is participating in an interview.

Observational data can be recorded in different formats, including through field notes, photographs, video recordings, and structured observational protocols. There are different types of observation that can be collected in a qualitative project: participant, direct, and indirect.

Participant observation is when the researcher takes part in everyday activities and interacts with people and the environment in order to gain an in-depth understanding of a topic and the meanings participants give to it through their experiences with it. This type of observation usually requires the researcher to spend a significant time in the research setting. An example of participant observation is a researcher dancing with parents who are celebrating their daughter’s coming-of-age party in a village. Participant observation is synonymous in ethnographic projects.

Direct observation, also called naturalistic observation, is a method of collecting data using one’s senses without interacting with the participants and their surroundings.

On the other hand, indirect observation is when a researcher is not in the field in which data is collected but uses prerecorded information, such as photographs and videos, to get information on a topic.

Observation can be beneficial to your project because it can provide insight and background on other types of data collected, such as interviews, focus groups, or the arts. Our consultants can help you prepare to record observations in your study and learn how to integrate this type of data for qualitative analysis.