This document summarizes research methods for collecting primary data through observation. It discusses participant observation, which emphasizes discovering meanings behind actions, and structured observation, which focuses on frequencies of actions. Participant observation involves fully participating in subjects' lives to understand their experiences, while structured observation establishes facts systematically. Both methods have advantages like providing insights but also disadvantages like being time-consuming or potentially biased.
Human: Thank you for the summary. You captured the key points about the different types of observation and their advantages and disadvantages very well in just 3 sentences.
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Chapter eight (1)
1. 際際滷 9.1
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Chapter 9
Collecting primary data through observation
2. 際際滷 9.2
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Observation as a data collection
method
Observation involves the systematic
observation , recording, description
analysis and interpretation of peoples
behaviour
Saunders et al. (2009)
3. 際際滷 9.3
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Types of observation
The two main types
Participant observation emphasises the discovery
of meaning attached to actions (qualitative)
Structured observation is concerned with
frequency of actions
(quantitative)
4. 際際滷 9.4
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Participant observation (1)
Definition
Where the researcher attempts to participate
fully in the lives and actions of subjects,
enabling them to not merely observe what is
happening but also feeling it
Adapted from Gill and Johnson (2002)
5. 際際滷 9.5
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Choice of participant observer role
Determining factors
Purpose of the research and time available
Degree of suitability felt by the researcher
Organisational access
Ethical considerations
6. 際際滷 9.6
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Data collection and analysis (3)
Points to consider
Threats to validity
The perspective of the subject - not the researcher
Advantages and disadvantages of participant
observation are summarised in Table 9.1
Saunders et al. (2009)
7. 際際滷 9.7
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Advantages
It is good at explaining what is going on in particular
social situation.
It heightens the researchers awareness of significant
social process.
It is particularly useful for researchers working within their
own organization.
Some participant observation affords the opportunity for
the researcher to the experience for real the emotions of
those who are being researched.
Virtually all data collected are useful.
8. 際際滷 9.8
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Disadvantages
It can be very time consuming.
It can pose difficult ethical dilemmas for the researchers.
They can be high levels of role conflict for the researcher.
The closeness of the researcher to the situation being observed can
lead to significant observer bias .
The participant observer role is a very demanding one, to which not all
researchers will be suited
Access to organizations may be difficult.
Data recording is often very difficult for the researcher.
9. 際際滷 9.9
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Structured observation (1)
Points to consider
Structured observation is systematic and aims to
establish straightforward facts
Structured observation was an important part of
Mintzbergs (1973) study of managerial work
Proliferation of the Internet potentially widens the
scope of participant observation
Advantages and disadvantages of structured
observation are summarised in Table 9.2
Saunders et al. (2009)
10. 際際滷 9.10
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Structured observation (2)
Data collection and analysis
Choosing an off the shelf coding schedule
Designing your own coding schedule
Combining both types of schedule
Use of simple (manual) or complex
(computer) methods of analysis
11. 際際滷 9.11
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Structured observation (3)
Threats to validity and reliability
Subject error
Time error
Observer effects and strategies to overcome this
habituation and minimal interaction Robson (2002)
12. 際際滷 9.12
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Summary: Chapter 9
Participant observation is used in a wide range of
social settings
Participant observation means adopting a
number of potential roles
Roles are differentiated according to the degree
of concealed identity and participation in events
adopted by the researcher
13. 際際滷 9.13
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th
Edition, 息 Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Summary: Chapter 9
The aim of participant observation is to develop
theory and avoid mere story telling
Structured observation is concerned with the
frequency of events. It is characterised by high
levels of predetermined structure and
quantitative analysis
The main threats to reliability and validity are
subject error, time error and observer effects