2017/09/14 by Martyn Hammersley · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods #Participatory Visual Research Methods #Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
paper · doi:10.1002/9781405165518.wbeoso002.pub2
openalex publication_date 2017/09/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03
As a method of inquiry, observation is an alternative or complement to the use of interview, documentary, or questionnaire data. It is usually conceived as taking place in “natural” rather than experimental situations, even though experiments necessarily rely on observations by the experimenter. At a minimum, observation involves a researcher watching and listening to actions and events within some context over some period of time, and making a record of what has been witnessed.