Data Collection Through Observation

FIELD OBSERVATION ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
Observation is the act of noting a phenomenon in the field setting through the five senses of the observer, often with a note-taking instrument, and recording it for scientific purposes (Angrosino, 2007). Some reasons for using participant observation in research include: 1) to identify and guide relationships with informants; 2) to help the researcher get the feel for how things are organized and prioritized, how people interrelate, and parameters of the culture; and 3) to show the researcher what the cultural members deem to be important in manners, leadership, politics, social interaction, and taboos (Schensul, Schensul, & LeCompte, 1999).
INSTRUCTIONS
For this qualitative research field observation assignment, please complete the following:
Content
• Identify a topic: what would you like to observe?
o Consider a topic that focuses on the social order that arises out of persons following rules in public settings (e.g., waiting in line at the supermarket, the car wash, ordering food at a restaurant, students engaging in classroom discussion, etc.,).
• Select a public place (e.g., supermarket, restaurant, athletic event, department store, bank, etc.) in which enables you to observe this social order.
o Identifying a topic and selecting a public place may present concurrently.
• Craft an observation protocol (include both descriptive notes and reflective notes): see Figure 7.7 Sample Observational Protocol (Creswell & Poth, 2018).
o Determine the type of observation being conducted and connect to reference.
o Observe and report on the following:
 Verbal behavior – what was said and the context in which it was said.
 Tie-bonds – non-verbal communications that demonstrate how two or more persons are “bonded” to each other (e.g., touching, eye-contact, smiling, etc.).
 Body language – how is body language (e.g., posture, facial expressions, etc.) used to communicate social order rules?
 Auto-involvement – what kinds of auto-involvement (e.g., playing with hair, bracelets, clothes, etc.) are “okay” in the setting you are observing?
 Ecological distribution – are there rules governing the distance between people in particular settings?
• Reflective notes: discuss the process, reflections on activities, and summary conclusions about activities. Connect to/include relevant literature.
Structure
• Format of assignment: observational protocol in table format; 12-point Times New Roman
• Length of assignment: at least 1 page

References:

Angrosino, M. (2007). Doing ethnographic and observational research. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.

Schensul, S., Schensul, J., & LeCompte, M. (1999). Essential ethnographic methods:
observations, interviews, and questionnaires (Book 2 in Ethnographer’s Toolkit). Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.