Exercises

  1. Identify a topic in your research project that you feel is suited for observation. Why is it suited for observation?
  2. Determine if the topic requires a participant or a non-participant observation approach.
  3. Conduct the observation and try different styles of note-taking during your observation: taking notes continuously while observing, taking short breaks from observation to write notes, and taking no notes during the observation and writing these afterwards. Consider which style works best for you. In which situations could you use these different strategies?
  4. Repeat the same exercise with another researcher and see the difference in the observations.