Qualitative Approaches for Food Security Assessment
2.2687318696
2.2. Planning and Conducting Data Collection: Structured Observation
Session-at-a-glance
Content
Approximate
Time
(Minutes)
Instructional Activity
Introduction to Session Objectives
5
Presentation
Developing and Undertaking Data
Collection: Structured Observation
70
Group Work and Presentations
Group Debriefing
30
Plenary Discussion
Total Time
105 minutes
/ 1hour 45
minutes.
Session Objectives
After the end of this session, participants will be able to:
•
Develop a plan and data-collection and storage tools for undertaking a structured
observation;
•
Undertake an initial analysis of structured observations.
Session Supplies

Power-point 2.2: Planning and Conducting Data Collection-Structured
Observation.ppt

Exercise 2.2: Structured Observation.doc, copied to all participants.

Copies of the same issue of a newspaper as the number of participants.
Key Messages

Structured observations provide important insights into the life of communities and
residents. When undertaking structured observations, it is important to identify the
specific objective of the observation, develop data collection and storage tools, and
triangulate and cross-check data and findings.
Guidance Materials
--
Page 1 of 4
Qualitative Approaches for Food Security Assessment
2.2687318696
Facilitator Guidance and session preparation
For Exercise 2.1: Make sure to have enough copies of the same issue of a newspaper or
magazine for all the participants. Each participant should have a copy to observe.
If possible, the observation exercise should be organized in a natural setting (e.g. market,
people collecting water, a clinic, a supermarket) near the training facility. This, however,
will require changing the exercise instruction (both in the Exercise handout and the
PowerPoint files) and ensuring that members of the same group can observe the same
setting for comparisons.
Room Setup
Same as earlier sessions
Session Activities
Session Introduction
5 minutes
Introduce the session title and objectives (slide 1-2). Note that this session is one of three
sessions that give participants the opportunity to practice planning for, undertaking and
reporting on data collection methods.
Developing and Undertaking Data Collection: Structured Observation
70 minutes (15 minutes for preparation, 10 minutes for observation, 10 minutes for note
expansion, 20 minutes for group discussion, and 15 minutes for group presentations)
Use a quick grouping method to divide the participants into four groups Introduce the
mock observation exercise (slide 3). Distribute handout 2.1 and the copies of the
newspaper.
Remind participants that structured observations must be linked to a clear objective
(based on an initial hypothesis) and based on data collection and storage tool. Hence,
stress that each group should dedicate the first ten to fifteen minutes to discuss and agree
on its objective and develop the data collection and storage tool. Note that the tool should
be simple given the time constraints and mainly include a list of things to look for.
Once the group formulates its objectives and data collection tool, each group member has
ten minutes to undertake the observation and recording notes (using the observation tool
developed by the group). One member should be designated as observer of the decision
Page 2 of 4
Qualitative Approaches for Food Security Assessment
2.2687318696
making process /formulation of conclusions in each group. Ideally (but not necessary), this
person should be tasked with delivering the group’s presentation and should include in
his/her presentation his observations about the process.
Stress the importance of not returning to a page already observed, because in real
life an assessor cannot rewind. After each group member completes their observation,
they should expand their notes (individually). Note that individual work may seem
inefficient, but it is necessary to enable participants to realize how individual observations
of the same thing will most likely differ, hence elucidating the weaknesses of observations
discussed earlier.
Groups should then discuss their observations and reach a conclusion. The group
presentation should cover the following:
 Objective of the observation
 Tool used
 Conclusion
 Strengths and weaknesses of process (observation method, differences in
observations between group members and how these were reconciled)
 If you were to redo the exercise, what things would you do differently?
Move between groups to provide guidance as needed. After about 50 minutes, ask the
groups to deliver their presentations.
Group Debriefing
30 minutes
After the presentations, ask the participants to reflect on the following questions:
 Did you achieve your observation objectives? Why/why not?
o Was it because of the objective?
o Was everything clear on the objective of the observation?
 What kind of distractions did you face? Did this affect the observation?
 Were there any observational differences? How did you resolve them as a group?
 What was the basis for formulating the conclusions? How confident can we be
about our conclusion?
 If we were to sample our observations in a real-life setting, how would we do it?
The key conclusions that need to be drawn are the following:
 When we are conducting a structured observation, it is important to have clear and
realistic objectives. There is no point spending time on gathering data through
observations if other methods provide an easier data collection alternative.
 There is a certain degree of unreliability in observations. This is why triangulation
is very important.
 In real-life application of some structured observations, sampling plays a significant
role. For example, if you are observing buying behavior in a market, you cannot
Page 3 of 4
Qualitative Approaches for Food Security Assessment
2.2687318696
possibly observe all market visitors. Your sampling procedure should enable you to
collect data effectively and capture a representative sample of the population being
studied.
After about thirty minutes thank all and invite them for lunch.
Variation: If the observation exercises takes place in a natural setting (i.e. a local market, a
shopping center, local farms) you should describe the setting to participants (and possibly,
define the observation objective) so that they can use classroom time effectively to prepare
their observation tools before venturing off to undertake it. Assign the responsibility of
Time-Keeper to one participant in each group. This person is responsible for ensuring that
the group works efficiently, complete its task and return on time to deliver its presentation.
Page 4 of 4