Chapter 8

1. Chapter 8 Observation Studies

2. Learning Objectives Understand . . . • When observation studies are most useful. • Distinctions between monitoring. nonbehavioral and behavioral activities • Strengths of the observation approach in research design. • Weaknesses of the observation approach in research design.

3. Learning Objectives Understand . . . • Three perspectives from which the observer-participant relationship may be viewed. • Various designs of observation studies.

4. PulsePoint: Research Revelation 101 The number, in millions, of adult Internet users who will bank online by 2011.

5. RFID Changes Monitoring “We can certainly understand and appreciate consumer concern about privacy. That’s why we want our customers to know that RFID tags will not contain nor collect any additional data about our customers. In fact in the foreseeable future, there won’t even be any RFID readers on our stores’ main sales floors.” Linda Dillman, EVP & Chief Information Officer, Wal-Mart

6. Observation and the Research Process

7. Selecting the Data Collection Method

8. Selecting an Observation Data Collection Approach

9. Who? Where? What? (event or time) How? When? Research Design Task Details

10. Observation Location

11. Content of Observation

12. Watching Listening Touching Smelling Reading Data Collection

13. Using Observation Systematic planning Properly controlled Consistently dependable Accurate account of events

14. Nonbehavioral Physical condition analysis Process or Activity analysis Record analysis Behavioral Nonverbal Linguistic Extralinguistic Spatial Observation Classification

15. Selecting an Observation Data Collection Approach . . .Nonbehavioral

16. Nonbehavioral Observation Record Analysis Physical Condition Analysis Physical Process Analysis

17. Wal-Mart Implements Use of RFID Labels

18. Selecting an Observation Data Collection Approach…Behavioral

19. Behavioral Observation • “We noticed people scraping the toppings off our pizza crusts. We thought at first there was something wrong, but they said, ‘We love it, we just don’t eat the crust anymore.” • Tom Santor, Donatos Pizza

20. Standardized procedures Structured Trained observers Encoding observation information Recording schedules Systematic Observation Systematic

21. Flowchart for Checklist Design

22. Video camera Pupilometer Audio recorder Tachistoscope Eye camera Galvanometer Mechanical/ Digital Behavioral Observation Devices

23. SizeUSA Body Measurement System

24. Portable People Meters

25. Observer-Participant Relationship Direct or indirect observation Presence is known or unknown Observer involved or not involved in events

26. Extralinguistic Observation Vocal Temporal Interaction Verbal Stylistic

27. Desired Characteristics for Observers Concentration Detail-oriented Unobtrusive Experience level

28. Errors Introduced by Observers Halo Effect Observer Drift

29. Strengths Securing information that is otherwise unavailable Avoiding participant filtering/ forgetting Securing environmental context Optimizing naturalness Reducing obtrusiveness Weaknesses Enduring long periods Incurring higher expenses Having lower reliability of inferences Quantifying data Keeping large records Being limited on knowledge of cognitive processes Evaluation of Behavioral Observation

30. Concealment Event sampling Halo effect Observation Direct Extralinguistic Indirect Linguistic Nonverbal Participant Simple Spatial systematic Key Terms

31. Observation checklist Observer drift Physical condition analysis Physical trace Process (activity) analysis Reactivity response Record analysis Spatial Relationships Time sampling Unobtrusive measures Key Terms