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Observation in psychology is a descriptive psychological research method, which consists in purposeful and organized perception and registration of the behavior of the object under study. Observation is a purposeful, organized and in a certain way fixed perception of the object under study. In observation, phenomena are studied directly under the conditions in which they occur in real life.
Where applicable
Together with introspection, observation is considered the oldest psychological method. Scientific observation has been widely used since the end of the XNUMXth century in areas where the fixation of the characteristics of human behavior in various conditions is of particular importance — in clinical, social, educational psychology, developmental psychology, and since the beginning of the XNUMXth century — in labor psychology. Surveillance is used when it is either impossible or inadmissible to interfere with the natural course of the process.
Types of observation
Observation as a method of research in psychology can be different. It can be conscious and not, external and internal, continuous and selective, systematic and not. See →
Features of the method
Observation is used where the intervention of the experimenter will disrupt the process of human interaction with the environment. This method is indispensable when it is necessary to obtain a complete picture of what is happening and reflect the behavior of individuals in its entirety.
The main features of the observation method are:
- direct connection between the observer and the observed object;
- partiality (emotional coloring) of observation;
- the complexity (sometimes — the impossibility) of repeated observation.
In the natural sciences, the observer, as a rule, does not influence the process (phenomenon) being studied. In psychology, there is a problem of interaction between the observer and the observed. If the subject knows that he is being observed, then the presence of the researcher influences his behavior. The limitations of the method of observation gave rise to other, more «perfect» methods of empirical research: experiment and measurement. See Druzhinin V.N. Experimental psychology. — St. Petersburg. 2000 and Pros and cons of the method of observation
Subject of observation
The objects of observation are various features of behavior. The objects of research can be:
- Verbal behavior, including the content, duration and intensity of speech,
- Non-verbal behavior — expression of the face, eyes, body, expressive movements, etc.,
- Movements of people — the distance between people, physical influences (touches, pushes, blows, etc.).
That is, only that which can be objectively registered can act as an object of observation. Thus, the researcher does not observe the properties of the psyche, he registers only those manifestations of the object that are available for fixation. And only on the basis of the assumption that the psyche finds its manifestation in behavior, the psychologist can build hypotheses about mental properties, based on the data obtained during observation.
How to conduct surveillance
The results of observations carried out for research purposes, as a rule, are recorded in special protocols. It is good when the observation is carried out not by one person, but by several, and then the data obtained are compared and generalized (by the method of generalizing independent observations).
When using the observation method, the following requirements must be observed as fully as possible:
- Preliminarily plan the observation program with the allocation of the most important objects and stages of observation.
- The observations made should not affect the natural course of the phenomenon under study.
- It is expedient to observe the same mental phenomenon on different persons. Even if the object of study is a specific person, it can be better and deeper to know by comparing with others.
- Observation should be repeated, and in the study of personality — systematic. It is important that it be successive, that is, repeated observations take into account the information obtained from previous observations.
Stages of observational research
- Definition of the object of observation, object, situation.
- Choice of observation and data recording method.
- Create an observation plan.
- Choice of method of results processing.
- Actually observation.
- Processing and interpretation of the received information.
Surveillance tools
Observation can be carried out directly by the researcher, or by means of observation devices and fixing its results. These include audio, photo, video equipment, special surveillance cards.
Observation is opposed to experiment. This opposition is based on two assumptions:
- Passivity of the observer — the observer does not change the surrounding reality.
- Immediacy — the observer records what he sees in the protocol.
APA Code of Ethics and Observations
The Code of Ethics of the American Psychological Association, or APA, permits observation under certain rules and precautions. Here are some of them:
- If the research is conducted in a public place, it is not considered necessary to obtain the informed consent of the participants. Otherwise, you must obtain their consent.
- Psychologists should do everything possible to avoid causing harm to research participants, and if it cannot be avoided, reduce the perceived harm.
- Psychologists should minimize the invasion of privacy.
- Psychologists do not disclose confidential data about the participants in their studies.