Observational Research – Methods and Guide

Observational Research

What is Observational Research?

Observational research is a form of research that relies on observations of natural phenomena or human behavior. This type of research is often used to learn more about how people behave and how the environment affects their behavior. Observational studies can be used to study a variety of topics, including health, social behavior, and environmental issues.

Observation

What is Observational?

Observation is the act of looking at and analyzing the world around you. It can be done through either your eyes or your mind. Through observation, we can learn about our surroundings and how they work. We can also learn about ourselves and how we interact with the world around us. Observation is an important tool for learning and understanding, and it can be used in a variety of fields.

Observational Research Types

Observational Research is Divided into Five main types:

• Naturalistic Observation
• Participant Observation
• Structured Observation
• Case Studies
• Archival Research

Naturalistic Observation

Naturalistic observation is a research method often used by psychologists and other social scientists. This type of research involves observing subjects in their natural environment, without any interference from the researcher. This allows for a more realistic and unbiased view of the subject’s behavior.

Naturalistic Observation

Participant observation is a similar method, but with one key difference: the researcher becomes a part of the environment they are observing. This allows for a more intimate look at the subject’s behavior, but can also introduce bias into the research.

Structured Observation

Structured observation is a type of observational research in which the researcher observes the behavior of subjects in a controlled environment. This type of research is often used in laboratory settings.

Case Studies

Case studies are another type of observational research in which the researcher observes the behavior of a small number of subjects over an extended period of time.

Archival Research

Archival research is a third type of observational research in which the researcher looks at records that have been created by other people.

Observational Research Data Collection Methods

There are two main types of observational data collection methods:

• Direct Observation
• Participant observation

Direct Observation

Direct observation involves observing people’s behavior without their knowledge. Researchers use this method to collect data about people’s natural behavior in a given setting.

Participant observation

Participant observation involves becoming a part of the group that is being studied. Researchers use this method to collect data about people’s behavior in a given setting while also gaining insight into the culture and social norms of the group.

Observational Data Analysis Methods

Observational Data Analysis Methods are:

• Cross-sectional
• Cohort
• Case-control
• Ecological studies

Cross-sectional

Cross-sectional studies compare different groups of individuals at a single point in time. They are useful for studying rare exposures or outcomes, but cannot be used to establish causal relationships.

Cohort

Cohort studies follow a group of individuals over time. They can be used to study both rare exposures and common outcomes, and can establish temporal relationships between exposure and outcome. However, they are often expensive and time-consuming to conduct.

Case-control

Case-control studies compare individuals with a particular outcome (cases) to those without that outcome (controls). They are useful for studying rare outcomes, but may be biased if cases and controls are not comparable.

Ecological studies

Ecological studies are important for understanding how ecosystems function and how they are affected by human activity. Ecologists use a variety of techniques to study ecosystems, including field observations, experiments, and modeling.

Observational Research Example

One example of observational research is a study conducted by sociologist William Foote Whyte on the effects of neighborhood design on crime rates. In this study, Whyte and his team observed the neighborhoods of two cities

• One with a traditional grid layout
• One with a more modern, suburban layout

And found that the latter had significantly lower rates of crime.

This example demonstrates how observational research can be used to provide valuable insights into human behavior. When done correctly, it can be an extremely powerful tool for understanding the world around us

How to Conduct Observational Research

When conducting observational research, there are several things to keep in mind in order to ensure that the research is conducted properly.

• It is important to have a clear purpose for conducting observational research. This will help to guide the observations and ensure that they are focused on the right things.
• Get permission from your participants. It is important to get explicit permission from the people who you will be observing. This means letting them know that they will be observed, what the purpose of the observation is, and how their information will be used.
• It is important to make sure that the observations are objective and unbiased. This can be accomplished by keeping detailed notes of what is observed and avoiding any personal interpretation of the data.
• Keep your observers hidden. The participants should not be aware of the observers in order to avoid any potential bias in their behavior.
• It is important to document the observations in a clear and concise manner. This will allow others to review the data and verify the results of the observational research.
• Use multiple observers whenever possible.

When to use Observational Research

There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding if observational research is the right method to use.

• It is important to consider what type of data you are trying to collect. Observational research is best suited for collecting data about people’s behavior and actions.
• You need to decide if you want to observe people in their natural environment or in a controlled setting.
• It is important to consider the resources that are available to you. Observational research requires time and effort to set up and carry out. If you have limited resources, it may not be the best option.

Also see Ethnographic Research

Advantages of Observational Research

There are several advantages to using observational research, including the following:

• Observational research can be used to generate hypotheses about relationships between variables. In addition, it can be used to identify potential causes of phenomena.
• It can be used to measure the strength of relationships between variables.
• It can be used to determine the direction of causality between variables.

Also see Focus Groups in Qualitative Research

Disadvantages of Observational Research

Observational research has a number of disadvantages compared to other types of research.

• It is difficult to determine causation from observational data. This is because there are many factors that can influence the results and it is impossible to control for all of them.
• Observational studies can be subject to bias. For example, researchers may be more likely to publish studies that show a positive correlation between two variables, even if the correlation is not actually statistically significant.
• Observational studies are less reliable than randomized controlled trials, which are considered the gold standard for scientific research.
• It can be expensive and time-consuming to conduct.