OBSERVATION

OBSERVATION

Observation is a method that employs vision as its main means of data collection. It implies the use of eyes rather than of ears and the voice. It is accurate watching and noting of phenomena as they occur with regards to the cause and effects or mutual relations. It is watching other persons’ behaviour as it actually happens without controlling it.

Definition of Observation

1. According to Lindzey Gardner has defined it as “selection, provocation, recording and encoding of that set of behaviours and settings concerning organism ‘in situ’ (naturalistic setting or familiar surroundings) which are consistent with empirical aims.”
2. According to Moses and Kalton are of the opinion that, “observation implies the use of the eyes rather than of the ears and the voice.”
3. According to Goode and Hatt say, “science begins with observation and must ultimately return to observation for its final validation.”
4. According to P.V. Young, observation may be defined as “systematic viewing, coupled with consideration of the seen phenomena.”

ADVANTAGES/MERITS OF OBSERVATION:

1. Simplest Method:  Observation is probably the most common and the simplest method of data collection. It does not require much technical knowledge. Although scientific controlled observation requires some technical skill of the researcher, still it is easier than other methods. Everybody in this world observes many things in their daily life. A little training can make a person perfect, to observe his surroundings.
2. Useful for Framing Hypothesis: Observation is one of the main bases of formulating hypothesis. By observing a phenomenon continuously, the researcher may get well acquainted with the observed. He came to know about their habits, likes, dislikes, problems, perception, different activities and so many other things. All these help him a lot to form a hypothesis on them. Any researcher, therefore, has to be a good observer.
3. Greater Accuracy: In other approaches like interview, questionnaire, etc., the researcher relies on respondent information. These procedures are indirect, thus the investigator cannot verify their data. However, the observer can directly check accuracy from the observed. He can test their behavior with numerous gadgets. Observation data is usually more accurate than interview or questionnaire data.
4. An Universal Method: Observation is a common method used in all sciences, whether physical or social. So it has greater universality of practice. As a common method, it is very easily followed and accepted.
5. Observation is the Only Appropriate Tool for Certain Cases: Infants and animals, who cannot speak, can be observed. Studies on infants who cannot understand or communicate require observation. Animal observation is the only solution. Observation is the only instrument for deaf and dumb people, significant abnormalities or mad people, non-cooperative people, shy people, and people who don’t speak the researcher’s language.
6. Independent of People’s Willingness to Report: Observing someone doesn’t require their consent. Respondents sometimes don’t like talking about themselves to outsiders. Some folks don’t have time or skills to give researchers crucial information. Although observation cannot always avoid such difficulties, it requires less active cooperation and willingness from respondents. Observation is always possible.

DISADVANTAGES/DEMERITS OF OBSERVATION:

1. Some of the Occurrences may not be Open to Observation: There are many personal behaviours or secret activities which are not open for observation. For example, no couple will allow the researcher to observe their sexual activities. In most of the cases people do not allow the outsider to study their activities.
2. Not all Occurrences Open to Observation can be Observed when Observer is at Hand: Many social events are unpredictable. Researching their period and place is tough. Event may occur without observer. However, the observer may not be present. For instance, two parties fighting is never guaranteed. Its timing is unknown.
3. Not all Occurrences Lend Themselves to Observational Study: Most of the social phenomenon is abstract in nature. For example, love, affection, feeling and emotion of parents towards their children are not open to our senses and also cannot be quantified by observational techniques. The researcher may employ other methods like case study; interview etc. to study such phenomena.
4. Lack of Reliability: Observational generalizations are unreliable because social phenomena cannot be controlled or tested in labs. P. V. Young notes that observation does not employ precision instruments to verify the phenomenon.
5. Faulty Perception: Observation requires technological expertise. One never knows if what they see is what they see. Different people may evaluate the same event. A scenario may be meaningful to one individual but useless to another. Scientific observations require technological expertise.
6. Personal Bias of the Observer: The personal bias, personal view or looking at things in a particular way often creates obstacle for making valid generalization. The observer may have his own ideas of right and wrong or he may have different pre-conceptions regarding an event which kills the objectivity in social research.
7. Slow Investigation: Observation is a time taking process. P. V. Young rightly remarks that the valid observation cannot be hurried; we cannot complete our investigation in a short period through observation. It sometimes reduces the interest of both observer and observed to continue their observation process.
8. Expensive: Observation is a costly affair. It requires high cost, plenty of time and hard effort. Observation involves travelling, staying at the place of phenomena and purchasing of sophisticated equipment’s. Because of this it is called as one of the most expensive methods of data collection.
9. Inadequate Method: According to P.V. Young, “the full answers cannot be collected by observation alone.” Therefore many suggested that observation must be supplemented by other methods also.
10. Difficulty in Checking Validity: Checking the validity of observation is always difficult. Many of the phenomena of observation cannot be defined with sufficient precision and does not help in drawing a valid generalization. The lack of competence of the observer may hamper validity and reliability of observation.

Observation is a fundamental method of data collection that relies on visual perception and accurate recording of phenomena as they occur. Considering both the advantages and disadvantages, observation remains a valuable tool in research, providing valuable insights and empirical data.