Research Tools 1: Observation

Data collection or research tools refer to the devices or instruments used to collect data, such as a paper questionnaire or computer-assisted interviewing system. They are used to measure a variable, or to collect the information needed to answer a research question. Careful selection of research tools can help the researcher achieve goals and save time.

Data Collection

Data are facts, numbers, letters or symbols that describe an object, idea, condition, situation or other factors.  They serve as raw material for analysis and provide the facts and figures which are preparing various measurement scales. They also make the results of the study publicly available.

Collecting data is one of the most important components of research. Good data plays a significant role in gaining insight on the on the existing problem or opportunity. Lack of good data limits the effectiveness of other data tools. Data is vital in every step of the entire process.

However, data is most necessary at the initial step since it helps the researcher to narrow down the scope of the problem being investigated. There are a number of methods which are utilized during the data collection process. Some of the most common data collection methods include use of interviews, questionnaires and observations.

Data Types

Qualitative: qualitative data are measures of ‘types’ and may be represented by a name, symbol, or a number code.

Quantitative: quantitative data are measures of values or counts and are expressed as numbers. They are data about numeric variables (e.g. how many; how much; or how often).

Research Tools

A data collection tool or research tool is any tool used to measure a variable, or to collect the information needed to answer a research question. Careful selection of data collection tools can help the researcher achieve goals and save time.

Any research is only as good as the data that drives it, so choosing the right technique of data collection can make all the difference. In this article, and the next two articles to be published in the coming days, we will look at three different data collection techniques – observation, questionnaire and interview, and evaluate their suitability under different circumstances.

Observation

Observation is one of the most important research tools in the social and human sciences, having a vital role to play in helping to understand and interpret the social, cultural and economic environment. Any research benefits from observation, which entails use of senses to collect data from the external environment, because this tool is widely used.

The observer must be able to free himself from the constraints of personal values ​​in order to observe the facts as it is. While doing observation, we must go beyond the surface and penetrate the depth.

All social researches begin with observation, and ends with it; in other words observation is an inevitable part of any study or research on any social phenomenon. The most important positive aspect of observation is that it directly examines the phenomenon, enabling the behavior to be observed as it happens.

Observation Types

Structured or Controlled: It is characterized by a careful definition of the units to be observed, the style of recording the information, standardized condition of observation and selection of pertinent data of observation.

Unstructured or uncontrolled: When observation is to take place without above-mentioned characteristics, is called unstructured observation.

Participant: It is the observer by making himself, more or less a member of the group he is observing. So that he can experience what the members of the group experience.

Non-participant: When observer observe as a detached emissary without any attempt on his part to experience through participation what others feel is called non-participant .

Pros and Cons

Seeing is believing, they say. Making direct observations of simplistic phenomena can be a very quick and effective way of collecting data with minimal intrusion; while at the same time imposing some disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Direct access to research phenomena: because the researcher directly participates in the social environment of the study, he/she can receive large amount of information at one time; while other methods may not provide much information in the short term.
• Trusted data: because the researcher directly collects data when something happens, so the data can be more trusted.
• High levels of flexibility: in some cases, because research is done on children with mental illness, addiction and the like, and these people are not able to provide the researcher with data, he or she uses observation as the best way to gather information.
• No need for consent: in many cases, people under research do not wish to cooperate with the researcher for various reasons, such as lack of time; by observation, the researcher is not obliged to encourage people to participate in research process; he leads it by his/her own.
• Generating a permanent record of phenomena to be referred to later.
• The researcher can identify the accuracy of materials and statements.

Disadvantages

• Ethical issues: fully informed consent of research participant(s) is one of the basic ethical considerations to be adhered to by researchers.
• Longer time requirements.
• Impact of observer on primary data: the presence of observer may influence the behavior of sample group elements and poise negative implications on the level of research validity.
• Limitation: The environment in which the observation is done is limited and all data collected are limited to that study environment.
• Unpredictability: since the time and occurrence of many social events is unpredictable, it is not possible for the researcher to use observation technique in all research cases.
• High levels of observer bias: in some cases, the observer becomes so accustomed to his or her environment that he or she loses neutrality.
• Qualitative nature of observation: information obtained by the researcher is often of a qualitative nature; converting qualitative data to quantitative ones, analyzing and using statistical methods, are issues that diminish the importance and value of the qualitative information collected.