Observation
Level 1: Learning to see
徐佳慧 Alice
林正昀 Adam
李季樺 Gina
 The first step to becoming a good observer is
1. To accept that this is something you have to work
at.
2. To develop your sensitivity to setting, participants
and interaction.
 Wolcott (1994) offer an illustration of just how
demanding and rewarding good observation can be
in a story that bears retelling.
 There are 3 issues that need to be addressed when
observing:
1. the effect on the behavior of the observed
2. Possible consequences for the observer
3. The ethics of the observer’s actions
 The observation is very discreet.
You need to:
1. Just looking
2. A sense of place
3. The inhabitants
4. Note taking
A Sense of Place
 Different settings might be influenced by
different motivations.
 Consider both space and objects.
The Inhabitants
 The sence of living within the space and hence
using it for particular activities.
 What have been learnt?
(a) this particular setting;
(b) the relevence of space and objects;and
(c) the process of observation.
Note taking
 Note taking is influenced to some extent by
our view of what observation involves.
 Grbich (1999:134) says that the research acts
largely as a camera, scanning and recording
sounds detail wherever she/he happens to be
focusing, while also recording sounds and
spoken language from a broader range.
 Author didn’t agree with Grbich, author said
to point out that our view of ourselves as
observers will color the way we go about
observing and note taking.
An order of preference for note taking
 Find a way of disguising the note taking so
that it’s possible to make notes as events
unfold.
 Find a location on-site where notes can be
made as soon as possible after the events.
 Make all notes off-sites.
 Three stages in the writing process, note
taking is the first.
 The next step is to move from basic notes to a
fuller description, usually referred to as
fieldnotes.
 When writing up note, try to recall as mush as
possible, aiming above all for richness of
detail, but don’t worry about style.