A Comprehensive Guide to Conducting Observational Studies

An observational study is a common type of research method used by researchers to observe their environment and people. It is a research technique where one observes participants and processes in their natural setting. This lets researchers examine their subjects and also manage different situations in their natural way. Observational studies are usually natural and have nothing to do with research labs or focus groups.

There are different situations in which an observational study is conducted. For instance, it may be conducted to see how participants behave in a natural setting. Also, it can be used to observe how factors in the real world impact behaviour. It also helps in explaining a process.

Different types of observational studies

There are different types of observational studies that can be done. These are naturalistic observation, participant observation, and structured observation. As far as naturalistic observation is concerned, it occurs in the environment directly where the process has to take place. In this, the observations are usually made on an unobtrusive basis. The researcher doesn’t interact with participants in this case. Another type of observation study is participant observation. These researchers actively take part in the study. A researcher can also carry out interviews, take notes, and take effective photographs. The type of observation is structured observation. They do it in a lab or a simulated environment. As far as structured observation is concerned, it is about observing a specific phenomenon. This method is not natural.

Observation Study: Steps to follow

There are various steps to be followed in an observational study. These are as follows:

• Understanding the research's objective and goals is a critical first step. It is vital to figure out questions to be addressed and focus on participants. Hence, research objectives are crucial.

• Determine questions and develop a research guide: the second step is to develop a research guide to outline how the researcher approaches answers to questions.

• Develop methods for data collection: the third step is to determine the type of approach to be taken. For instance, the researcher has to decide if he will choose a naturalistic observation or an active participant approach. This includes that the researcher should focus on recording audio or video so that pictures can be taken.

• Observe the situation: the fourth step is to observe the situation. The researcher, in this case, goes into the field and carries out observations. This includes taking the necessary permissions.

• Do data preparation: the fifth step is to prepare data. This includes carrying out appropriate data analysis. This can include getting audio and video recordings. This also includes organising notes.

• Analysis of behaviour in data: the final step is to consider the data and analyse it so that it makes sense. This can include managing and effectively organising the data.

These are crucial steps to appropriately conducting an observational study. All steps are interdependent, so they should be carried out effectively to conduct the best study.