What is observation? This is a research method that is used in psychology for an organized and focused perception and study of an object. It is used where the intervention of the observer can disrupt the process of interaction of the individual with the environment. This method is especially needed when you need to get a full picture of what is happening and understand the behavior of people.
What is the observation?Observation is a specially organized and fixed perception of an object. It can be indirect and direct, internal and external, not included and included, indirect and direct, selective and continuous, laboratory and field.
By systematicity, it is divided into:
1. Non-systematic observation is a method in which a generalized picture of the behavior of a group of people or an individual individual under certain conditions is created. In this case, the goal is not to fix the causal dependence and the formation of strict descriptions of phenomena.
2. Systematic , which is carried out according to a strictly defined plan. The researcher at the same time registers the features of behavior and environmental conditions.
For fixed objects it is divided into:
1. Selective observation is a way in which the observer captures only certain behavior parameters.
2. Continuous , in which the researcher fixes all the features of behavior without exception.
According to the form of observation, they distinguish:
1. Conscious observation is a way in which the observed person knows that they are being watched. Moreover, the observed, as a rule, is in the know about the objectives of the study. But there are times when false objects of observation are communicated to the object. This is due to ethical concerns regarding the findings.
The disadvantages of the conscious type of observation: the psychological influence of the observer on the object, because of which it is often necessary to make several observations of the object.
Features: the observer can influence the behavior and actions of the object, which, if thoughtlessly set up, can greatly change the results; the observed ones, in turn, may, for some psychological reasons, pass off false actions as their usual actions, become embarrassed, or give free rein to their emotions; such observation cannot be carried out in a person’s daily life.
2.
Internal unconscious observation is a way in which observable people do not know that they are being monitored. In this case, the researcher becomes part of the surveillance system. An example is the situation when a psychologist introduces himself into a group of hooligans and does not communicate his intentions.
This form of observation is convenient for a qualitative study of the behavior of
small groups in society
. Moreover, the presence of an observer becomes natural, which does not affect the results of the study.
Disadvantages of unconscious observation: difficulty in obtaining results; the researcher may be embroiled in a conflict of values.
Features: the studied object does not know anything about what is being watched; the researcher gets a lot of information about what is being observed.
3.
External unconscious observation is a way in which the object being studied does not know anything about observation, and the observer conducts his work without direct contact with the object. This method is convenient in that the observer does not constrain the behavior of the observed and does not provoke their false actions.