11     OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES

The simple process of observing and recording events or situations is probably the oldest form of research. There is a great deal that you can learn about the world of the audience just by careful observation. 

In fact, all educational media research should begin with a period of observation of the audience in their real setting. It proves useful not only in forming an idea about the audience, but also in determining what other research methods need to be used. You will also know about the constraints that will be placed on the operation of different methods. If, for example, you propose to interview young houseworkers, a brief period of observation will show you the best place and the time to contact them without interference from other members of the family. Broadly, the observation techniques can be divided into Participant  1.  Observation, and  2.  Non-participant observation

Participant Observation 

In participant observation, you, as a researcher, are concerned with putting yourself in place of the respondent and then seeing what happens. Here, you go and live with the community, group or family you want to study. You become one of them. Depending upon the situation, you may decide whether or not you are going to let the people know that you are conducting research by observing their behaviour. 

Overt participant observation is when the subjects of research are informed they are being observed. 
Covert participant observation is what takes place when they do not know. 

Non-participant Observation 

Here also, you take part in great many activities of the group, but you remain detached from the group and activity, and simply observe and record what is going on. The people may or may not know that you are conducting a study. 

Strengths of Observation Method 

Observation is a relatively straightforward method. When combined with some training and a little common sense, you can record the natural behavior of the subjects and obtain a greater depth of experience than what is possible through other methods. You can also record the context in which certain behaviors take place. Such direct and in-depth experience frequently leads to useful insights into the area under study. The range of information collected will also be much wider since you will be observing different people doing different activities at the same time. This method can provide useful insights in the initial stages of needs assessment and development of audience profiles. It can open up certain critical issues for further study by you.

Limitations of Observation Method

You may find it difficult to enter a group, and find a place there unless you know some one in the group, or are introduced to them by some one known to them. Fortunately, rural communities in general are tolerant, and have no problem in accepting the presence of observers as legitimate. However, their behaviour may not be natural in the beginning, but you may find people opening up after some initial hesitation. 

Another problem is that it can be very time consuming. At times your may have to wait for long for certain behaviors to take place. For example, if you are interested in studying the practices of rearing a child after its birth, and the diet given to the lactating mother, you may have to wait for the event to happen.  While it has the advantage of relying on physically observed phenomena, it can generate mistaken conclusions based on your interpretation of the situation. There would be a need to verify your interpretation by talking with the people, when in doubt.

You have also to guard yourself against becoming emotionally involved with the people and the events as you establish close association with them. For example, you may be so overwhelmed with their poverty that you may forget to record your observations about its causes, its impact and the avenues that can be tapped for its alleviation. 

The observation methods are good in observing what is going on. But these are less effective in collecting information about the personal beliefs; feelings, opinions, motivations, expectations or future plans of the people. These are also of little help in knowing the past or private behaviors of the respondents. 

Finally, it is important to find a way to record the observed events accurately and on a regular basis. This becomes a problem when you are doing covert participant observation. Unless some aids such as daily diary are used for recording information, much of its value might be lost. 

Hints on Using Observation Method 

The first thing to do is to make sure that you are clear about what it is that you are looking for. So much might be happening but all might not be relevant. Unless basic plans of investigation and clear guidelines are drawn up, you are likely to end with a great deal of information that might not be necessary for your immediate purpose. 

The second thing to do is to work out an economical way of recording the information. This could take the form of a daily diary written under appropriate headings or a series of cards. For example, while studying the gender bias situations, the sub-headings could be on :

Household chores for the girl child
Scolding by parents
Aggression by male siblings
Differential treatment in serving food items (quantity, timings)
Facilities for schooling and homework, etc.

Daily recordings will help you know whether the observations are in the right direction or are getting distracted to other issues and what more need be observed. It would be possible to correct the error while field-work is in progress. 

It would be equally desirable to transfer the notes and interpret the observations at the end of the day while the events and the context in which these took place are still fresh in your mind. It will avoid the situation where you are later faced with the enormous task of analyzing a mass of barely legible observation notes. It may also be profitable to leave the field from time to time to discuss the findings with other researchers and the producers to discuss the trends with them. Their added perspective might be useful in gathering further data.  During the later part of the study, it may be profitable to supplement the observations by filling schedules of information. The schedules are drawn up before beginning the work, and subsequently are revised in the field, based on ground realities. Often the schedules contain such basic data as sex, age, education, caste, economic status, family pattern, size of the family, occupational structure etc. of the respondents observed. Even when these items are not the principal focus of research, the description of the respondents/group will help interpret the findings/activities against their background.

Before leaving the field, it would be necessary to ask questions for clarification of your doubts. For example, an observer noticed houseworkers in a village boiling water and concluded that they were health conscious. When questions were asked for verification, it was found that water was heated for the bath of the husbands. 

Resources permitting, it would be a good idea to record the salient observations on video for providing a visual profile of the audience, and about the ecology, geography and economic features of the region. 

Quite often observation is combined with case study method to obtain a wider and fuller perspective of the situation. You will find a discussion on the case study method in the next chapter. Be clear about what you are looking for