Considerations involved in setting up and carrying out an observation.

1. Considerations involved in setting up and carrying out an observation. By: Rebecca Im, ShivangiKakkar,Jaimie Kim, Jacob L.W

2. “An observation is not just about ‘hanging out’. A researcher who decided to carry out an observation must prepare it carefully.” ehow.com

3. Preparation of Observation • Researcher needs to find out about the problem under investigation and set up a plan for the observation • Contacting people • Researcher should also decide whether to conduct a participant or a non-participant observation • Important to decide early on exactly what to focus on “in the field”, while leaving space for certain flexibility • Should become familiar with the environment bystrikkacer.com

4. Initial Decisions & Notes • Should decide what types of notes to be taken during the observation • Descriptive: The researcher just observes what is happening and does not make any inferences • Inferential: The researcher makes inferences about what is observed, including comments on individual reactions and expressions of emotion • Evaluative: The researcher makes inferences and evaluates the behaviour • Researcher should also be aware of their own position because this needs to be clear in relation to the reflections conducted during the research • The researcher’s perspective may well influence the interpretation of the situation • This is acceptable in qualitative research as long as it is declared openly

5. Classroom research 1Before experiment • Pre-observational interviews with participants (teachers/students) • Brief about purpose of research, what is going to occur during obsv. • Present purpose, but some may not be revealed – The gender purpose could be said to be how teachers and students interact in the classroom, but not that the researcher is interested in how this affects the students’ motivation/interest, or whether /ethnicity influence teacher feedback. • Contacts with participants before the obsv. can reduce unnatural behavior during obvs. Participant expectancy/reactivity is minimized.

6. Conducting the Observation • The researcher meets with the participants and establishes a rapport • Adjustment to the context, aware of ethical rules of conduct • In participant observations: important to be involved in the setting and with the people while staying analytical • Goal: to preserve researcher objectivity so that the data collection is not influenced by selective perception northwesternuniversity.careerservices.wordpres.

7. Conduction the Observation Cont’d… • Multiple observers are at an advantage because one observer may notice something that the other missed • Risk: participants do not behave naturally = participant expectancy (or reactivity) • The researcher may come to the investigation with an in-built bias (researcher bias or the Rosenthal effect) selective perceptions and a biased interpretation of the data • Both factors influence credibility and validity of the data because the behavior of the observed person may be untypical of their normal behavior (lacks ecological validity) • Can be counterbalanced by credibility checks

8. Classroom research 2During experiment • During obvs. Researcher should provide highly detailed description of the interactions in the classroom in relation to each of the areas of interest. • Ex. How the teacher gives feedback to indiv. children in relation to gender/minority groups. • Ex. How children react to teacher. Facial/verbal expressions. • Ex. Who is talking and who is not talking in the class. • Ex. If there is evidence that the students are learning anything. • There should be notes for each focus area, and should include space for reflections.

9. After the Observations • The researcher can conduct post-observational interviews • The participants must be debriefed unless the observations were covert • Data analysis is carried out (e.g. using grounded theory based on field notes) amazon.com

10. Classroom research 3After experiment • Obvs notes (maybe videos) must be analysed and synthesized. • Include info from interviews conducted prior and after the obvs. • Include info to place obvs in context – ex. Racism/gender inequality in wider society.