WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.390 --> 00:00:06.450 Hello, and welcome to the video lecture on observation 2 00:00:06.450 --> 00:00:09.870 which is the next data collection technique 3 00:00:09.870 --> 00:00:12.510 that we will be doing in this class. 4 00:00:12.510 --> 00:00:16.503 And it is a qualitative research method. 5 00:00:18.780 --> 00:00:21.810 So we're going to talk about observations, what they are. 6 00:00:21.810 --> 00:00:25.170 There's two main types, some how to's, 7 00:00:25.170 --> 00:00:29.823 strengths and weaknesses, and that's it. 8 00:00:32.340 --> 00:00:36.210 This is a photo and a quotation 9 00:00:36.210 --> 00:00:38.970 by that great qualitative researcher 10 00:00:38.970 --> 00:00:43.970 and former baseball hall of famer, Yogi Berra, who says, 11 00:00:45.337 --> 00:00:47.997 "You can observe a lot just by watching." 12 00:00:53.460 --> 00:00:57.690 So this is, again, this is a qualitative method. 13 00:00:57.690 --> 00:00:59.730 There's too many types and what we are going to do next 14 00:00:59.730 --> 00:01:01.683 for our class project. 15 00:01:03.870 --> 00:01:08.870 So the two main types are determined 16 00:01:10.020 --> 00:01:14.070 by how much does the researcher participate 17 00:01:14.070 --> 00:01:15.810 and immerse themselves. 18 00:01:15.810 --> 00:01:19.740 So first is a participant observation 19 00:01:19.740 --> 00:01:22.830 where the researcher sort of jumps right in 20 00:01:22.830 --> 00:01:26.130 and does the thing that whatever 21 00:01:26.130 --> 00:01:29.130 the subject they're observing does. 22 00:01:29.130 --> 00:01:32.610 So eating a meal in a dining hall, 23 00:01:32.610 --> 00:01:36.120 if you are researching dining hall food, 24 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:41.120 if you are researching the behaviors and attitudes 25 00:01:42.630 --> 00:01:45.630 and experience of migrant farm workers, 26 00:01:45.630 --> 00:01:49.770 you could jump into the field and do that work 27 00:01:49.770 --> 00:01:51.810 and watch what they do. 28 00:01:51.810 --> 00:01:53.820 But in each case, you are doing what they do. 29 00:01:53.820 --> 00:01:57.180 You're really immersed in the experience 30 00:01:57.180 --> 00:02:02.180 and are therefore having this Emic perspective 31 00:02:03.810 --> 00:02:06.930 as opposed to the direct observation 32 00:02:06.930 --> 00:02:08.910 where you sort of stand on the outside 33 00:02:08.910 --> 00:02:13.410 and watch from afar and do not participate. 34 00:02:13.410 --> 00:02:18.410 And this, again, this is the Etic perspective 35 00:02:19.200 --> 00:02:22.260 and I invite you to think about what are the pros 36 00:02:22.260 --> 00:02:23.553 and cons of each. 37 00:02:25.950 --> 00:02:28.143 Why do you do observations? 38 00:02:29.370 --> 00:02:34.370 So first, it's a way to sort of watch a natural event, 39 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:36.330 unfold some sort, you know, 40 00:02:36.330 --> 00:02:39.900 watch your subjects doing something 41 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:42.333 that they naturally do, 42 00:02:44.130 --> 00:02:49.130 it's a way of understanding the broader context, 43 00:02:49.170 --> 00:02:53.460 the physical, social, cultural, and economic contexts. 44 00:02:53.460 --> 00:02:56.670 What are the conditions under which 45 00:02:56.670 --> 00:02:58.950 this action is being done, 46 00:02:58.950 --> 00:03:03.030 what are the sort of environmental factors, 47 00:03:03.030 --> 00:03:04.590 what is the setting? 48 00:03:04.590 --> 00:03:09.590 And it helps you to gain a deeper understanding 49 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:15.773 to see new things and it's also a way 50 00:03:17.490 --> 00:03:21.330 to gain data beyond what is just spoken and written. 51 00:03:21.330 --> 00:03:24.783 So it's another sort of perspective on things. 52 00:03:26.730 --> 00:03:30.810 So you wanna watch for both the physical 53 00:03:30.810 --> 00:03:32.760 and the social environment, 54 00:03:32.760 --> 00:03:37.470 how are the decisions being made, what's the language, 55 00:03:37.470 --> 00:03:40.350 are there non-verbal communication, 56 00:03:40.350 --> 00:03:44.313 what are the events that are happening, et cetera. 57 00:04:02.190 --> 00:04:07.190 So you select a site, sometimes you may wish 58 00:04:08.910 --> 00:04:13.650 to ask permission, sometimes you might wanna just go 59 00:04:13.650 --> 00:04:18.650 and not, it really depends on are there legal issues, 60 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:21.060 are there ethical issues, 61 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:24.820 will your presence there sort of alter behavior 62 00:04:25.770 --> 00:04:27.810 or put your subjects at risk? 63 00:04:27.810 --> 00:04:31.230 Those are all pretty important consideration. 64 00:04:31.230 --> 00:04:33.600 And as you do it, you wanna take notes 65 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:35.523 and write up the results. 66 00:04:36.840 --> 00:04:41.220 So here is a list of the strengths and weaknesses 67 00:04:41.220 --> 00:04:44.850 and we will go over these as well in class. 68 00:04:44.850 --> 00:04:47.580 And you'll see that most of what the weaknesses 69 00:04:47.580 --> 00:04:51.513 are things that we are going to address through our work. 70 00:04:52.710 --> 00:04:57.133 And here's a great resource on observations 71 00:04:58.290 --> 00:05:00.153 that I encourage you to read. 72 00:05:01.110 --> 00:05:03.933 And that's it. Thank you.