Observation can be defined as perceiving data through the senses and is used by researchers to gather empirical data. There are two main types of observation: direct observation where the observer directly sees or hears everything happening, and indirect observation where the observer analyzes past traces like recordings or documents. Observation methods include continuous monitoring to evaluate interactions, and spot sampling like time allocation and experience sampling to record activities at various times. Observation allows researchers to directly collect first-hand information but lacks control over variables and can be difficult to quantify data.

5. Definition
As a means of gathering
information for research,
may be defined as
perceiving data through the
senses: sight, hearing,
tastes ,touch and smell.

6. Purposes of Observation
 To enable the researcher to gather empirical data
which are difficult to obtain by other means.
 To enable the researcher to gather sufficient data to
supplement or verify information gathered by other
means.
 To enable the researcher to gather information or
data needed to describe the aspect of a variable
being studied which cannot described accurately
without observation.
 To enable the researcher to gather directly primary
data or first-hand information for his study for a
more accurate description and interpretation
 To enable the researcher to gather data from the
laboratory or elsewhere through experimentation.

8. The observer takes active
part in the activities of the
group being observed

9. The observer is merely
by-stander observing the
group he is studying
about.

10. Concentrate on a particular aspect
or aspects of the variable being
observed, be it a thing, behavior,
condition or situation.

11. The observer does not hold
any list of items to be
observed.

12. Usually utilized in experimental
studies in which the
experimental as well as the non-
experimental variables are
controlled by the researcher.

13. Usually utilized in natural
settings. No control whatsoever
is placed upon any variable
within the observation area.

15. Direct observation
 This observation method makes you see or listen to
everything that happens in the area of observation . For
instance, things happening in a classroom, court trial , street
trafficking , and the like come directly to your senses.
Remember, however, that to avoid waste of energy, time, and
effort in observing, you have to stick to the questions that
your research aims at answering. What you ought to focus
your attention to during the observation is specified by your
research problem in general as well as your specific research
questions.

16. Indirect Observation
 This method is also called behavior archeology
because, here, you observe traces of past events to
get information or a measure of behavior , trait, or
quality of your subject. Central to this method of
observation are things you listen to through tape
recordings and those you see in pictures , letter
,notices ,minutes of meetings , business
correspondence garbage cans, and so on. Indirect
observation takes place in the following ways.
(Peggs 2013;Maxwell 2012)

18. Continuous Monitoring or CM
Here, you observe to evaluate the
way people deal with one another.
As such, this is the main data
gathering technique used in
behavioral psychology, where
people’s worries, anxieties, habits,
and problems in shopping malls,
play, areas, family homes, or
classrooms serve as the focus of
studies in this field of discipline.

19. Spot sampling
 This was done first by behavioral psychologists in
1920 with a focus on researching the extent of
childern’s nervous habits as they would go
through their regular personality development.
For a continuous or uniterrupted focus on the
subjects, you record your observations through
spot sampling in an oral manner, not in a written
way.

20.  Name also as scan sampling or time sampling,
spot sampling comes in two types: time allocation
(TA) and experience sampling. In TA sampling,
what goes into the record are the best activities of
people you observed in undetermined places and
time. Experience sampling, on the other hand, lets
you record people’s responses anytime of the day
or week to question their present activities ,
companions, feelings and so on. Data gathering in
this case is facilatated by modern electronic and
technological gadgets like cell phone, emails, and
other online communication methods or
techniques. (Peggs 2013: Ritchie 2014)

22.  The investigator is able to gather directly, first-
hand information about the subject of his study.
 The researcher can observe his subjects for as long
as he needs the time and as many times as he can
for grater accuracy and validity in description and
interpretation.
 It is a superior technique of collecting information
from non-verbal behavior and inanimate objects.
 The subjects of inquiry can be observed in their
natural settings and this will exclude artificiality in
description and interpretation.

24.  There is lack of control upon extraneous variables
which may adversely affect the validity of attributing
certain causes upon certain effects.
 There is a smaller size of sample if the universe
covers a very wide area and the researcher cannot
afford to observe a substantial area.
 It is difficult to quantity data for standard tabulation
especially in unstructured observation and when
recording is done in the essay form.
 It hard to gain entry into the area to be observed.
 Lack of anonymity makes the observed subjects
withdraw or keep secret some vital but sensitive and
controversial information.