Observation as a Method of Research

In scientific research, various methods are used that are means and techniques by which it is possible to obtain reliable data on the subject of study and use them in the future to derive scientific theories and create practical recommendations.

Observation as a method of research is the most common and popular method of sociological and psychological research.

Observation is a scientific method of research, which is not limited to simple statement of facts, but scientifically explains the causes of a specific phenomenon. It consists in the purposeful collection of facts about the behavior and activities of people for their subsequent analysis.

Observation as a method of research is characterized by a number of requirements for its implementation. These include the requirement of preserving the conditions of naturalness of the passage of the phenomena under investigation, the requirement of purposeful study and a phased fixation of the results.

In the process of observation it is necessary to follow the program developed for this purpose in which the objectives and tasks of the research are determined, the object, situation and subject are determined, the way of studying the phenomena is chosen, the time limits of the observation are established and its schedule is made, the method of recording observations is chosen, and the methods for processing the data obtained.

In theory, these kinds of observations are distinguished. In terms of duration - short-term (cut) and longitudinal (long). In coverage - selective (there are separate parameters of phenomena and processes) and continuous (all changes in the object are recorded within the situation). By the degree of participation of researchers - direct (direct involvement) and mediated (through the use of auxiliary tools, equipment).

Observation as a research method is divided into two categories: structured and unstructured observation. Structured refers to the included study. It gives particularly qualitative results. Especially effective is observation in the event that the examinees are not aware of the experiment.

Separately, the included observation is a method of investigation, when the researcher participates in the life of the group under study, becoming a member of it, and observes the processes occurring in it from within.

Depending on the object: external (behavior, physiological changes, actions) or internal (thoughts, experiences, mental processes or states), the variations of this method differ: self-observation and objective observation.

Objective observation as a method of sociological research is a research strategy in which external characteristics or changes in observable objects are recorded. This observation is often a preliminary stage before the experiments.

The method of introspection is used to obtain empirical data by observing oneself. Especially often this observation is used as a method of psychological research. Elements of this method are the basis of most psychological studies of states and processes. Comparing the results of introspection with similar introspection of other people, one can establish kinship or compare the data of internal experience with the manifestations of the psyche at the external level.

The method of observation is also referred to as introspection, which was developed by W. Wundt within the framework of introspective psychology, and phenomenological self-observation. Introspection is a method of psychological introspection, consisting in monitoring the course of one's own psychological processes, without the use of additional tools, standards and tools.