What is observation? This is a research method that is used in psychology for an organized and purposeful 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 complete picture of what is happening and understand people's behavior.
What is 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 systematic 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 under certain conditions is created. At the same time, the goal of fixing the causal-effect dependence andformation of rigorous descriptions of phenomena.
2. Systematic, which is carried out according to a strictly defined plan. The researcher at the same time registers the behavior and environmental conditions.
By fixed objects it is divided into:
1. Selective observation is a way in which the observer captures only some parameters of behavior.
2. Solid, in which the researcher captures all the features of behavior without exception.
The form of observation is distinguished:
1. Conscious observation is a way in which the observed person knows that he is being observed. In this case, the observed, as a rule, is aware of the objectives of the study. But there are cases when false targets of observation are reported to the object. This is done due to ethical issues regarding the findings.
Disadvantages of the conscious type of observation: the psychological influence of the observer on the object, which often makes it necessary to make several observations of the object.
Features: the observer can influence the behavior and actions of the object, which, if ill-considered, can greatly change the results; the observed, in turn, may, due to some psychological reasons, pass off false actions as their usual ones, become embarrassed or give vent to their emotions; such observation cannot be carried out in a person's daily life.
2. Internal unconscious observation is a method in which the observed people know nothing about what is being followed.observation. In this case, the researcher becomes part of the surveillance system. An example is the situation when a psychologist infiltrates a group of hooligans and does not report his intentions.
This form of observation is convenient for a qualitative study of behavior in a society of small groups. At the same time, 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 can be drawn into a conflict of values.
Features: the researched object does not know anything about being observed; the researcher gets a lot of information about the observed.
3. External unconscious observation is a method in which the object under study does not know anything about the observation, and the observer himself conducts his work without direct contact with the object. This method is convenient because the observer does not constrain the behavior of the observed and does not provoke their false actions.
