Terms in this set (6)

Participant Observation Defined

1. Gaining entry into the location you wish to study.
2. Establishing rapport with the research participants under investigation.
3. Making sure you spend enough time with the research participants in the environment to get a sufficient amount of data for your study.

Examples of observation in a Sentence I’m just making an observation about the style. Her constant observations about the weather bored me. These facts are based on close observation of the birds in the wild. Observations made using the telescope have led to new theories.

• Testing Method. use tests to learn about human behavior.
• Case Study Method. in-depth investigation of a person or small group.
• Cross-Sectional Method. observe participants over a long period of time.
• Naturalistic-Observation Method.
• Laboraotry Method.
• Longitudinal Method.

The definition of an observation is the act of noticing something or a judgment or inference from something seen or experienced. An example of observation is the watching of Haley’s Comet. An example of observation is making the statement that a teacher is proficient from watching him teach several times.

An observation is a case of the data being collected. For example, if we were collecting data on students in the class, the observations would be each individual student in the class. A continuous variable is a numerical variable that takes on real number values.

Observation is way of gathering data by watching behavior, events, or noting physical characteristics in their natural setting. Observations can be overt (everyone knows they are being observed) or covert (no one knows they are being observed and the observer is concealed).

Conclude your paper with a summary of what you saw. But also draw some conclusions about what you think about your observation. Explain what your observations mean to you and what they might mean to the reader. Tie everything together in a succinct paragraph.

Paragraphs consist of three key elements: the paragraph leader, supporting sentences and concluding sentence.

A paragraph is a group of related sentences that support one main idea. In general, paragraphs consist of three parts: the topic sentence, body sentences, and the concluding or the bridge sentence to the next paragraph or section.

First, you record your observations of a particular setting or situation–that is, take field notes. Next, you interpret those notes according to relevant criteria. Finally, you write a well organized paper that presents your observations and interpretations, usually with the aim of answering a research question.

Glean information from each student’s daily experiences and interactions. Use data from tests to supplement your observation. Watch the process children go through to master skills, concepts, or content. Ask students to think aloud for you so you can probe their understanding of content and strategies.

When writing an observation it’s also important to remember:

• Background Details – child’s age, date, setting, children involved, observing educator.
• Play Behaviours – focus on play behaviours that you see as it helps us gather information on the child’s development, interest and social skills.

Topic Overview. Sensory and motor development is the gradual process by which a child gains use and coordination of the large muscles of the legs, trunk, and arms, and the smaller muscles of the hands. A baby begins to experience new awareness through sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing.