Observation in psychology

General introduction

Commonly, the practice of the observation does not require to have an assumption. However, the field of psychology cannot be satisfied with such a situation. Thus, within the framework of a scientific psychology, the observation requires clarified assumptions. Quite as essential, the observation must lie within a scope where the remarks can be also observed by whoever which would wish it, in other words, it is necessary that the framework of observation allow an observation répétable, therefore controllable. Scientific psychology has as regulates that the observations are répétables, i.e. controllable (but attention, certain facts are not répétables: explosion of a nova, political event, emotional crisis… thus what it is necessary they are that the results of observation of the same type. An exact reproduction is desirable but not always realizable). Interpretation is inevitable in the observation. The exactitude of an observation is never guaranteed.

Definition

To observe is to monopolize certain elements of reality and to be unaware of others of them. However, although the objective around whose the observation is organized obliges with the restriction, it also makes it possible to optimize and better to circumscribe the object of study. The quality of information collected will be only better.

One can speak about observation in opposition to the experimentation. The observation will be then an exploratory phase of research aiming at familiarizing itself with a situation or a phenomenon in order to make emerge an assumption.
One can speak about observation as method of research when one collects information with an aim of testing assumptions.

The observer

The observer is that which observes and releases from reality a certain number of information. It collects a quantity of elements which appear relevant to him. It is an inventory of reality, and already presents an main issue that to cut out reality in relevant units! For this reason but also because it cannot all perceive, nor all to want to observe, the observer thus makes a choice; it selects information which it will have released according to an final objective that it must determine in advance; that is necessary if it does not hold, during the examination, to find itself vis-a-vis a gross weight of information of which it will be able only to make, or if it does not want to run the risk that certain important components pass unperceived because badly targeted. The observer is either independent (observation of a group without being integrated into it), or taking part (integration in the group observed, ex: ethnology)

The material

In general, the measuring instrument is a means of coding noted information in order to it " traduire" in a form easier to analyze thus allowing to release some from the tendencies, the rules. The recording equipments, and especially their employment, can involve various forms of reactivity. The techniques used allow various approaches, for example " to see without being vu" or on the contrary to decrease the distance between observer and observed.

Instruments of physical physical record of the observations

The video cameras make it possible to keep a rich trace what did without. However multiple problems appear. On the one hand, one cannot be unaware of the legal problems and deontologic catch of sight as a public. In addition, the work of transcription of the recordings is at the same time very difficult and very demanding. It is advisable thus to examine carefully if, truly the recordings are necessary and if it would not be advisable to better develop a grid observation adapted to than one seeks.

The grid of observation

The observations collected are generally not usable in their primitive forms (especially if the observation were complex: sensorimotor training in the child or a discussion in a group). If the observation is transmitted in a common language without there being well laid down rules, a protocol of observation, the comparison between individuals, groups, cannot be established for lack of commonplace between the various observers. This is why the observer needs a well codified language and using only one restricted number of concepts, each one extremely well defined and clear. This " language " must contain a whole of criteria allowing each observer to classify their observations according to well defined rules. The choice of the criteria is done according to the assumptions. The observer will thus require for a specialized language, not using that a limited number of concepts thus each one is defined explicitly. They are whole of classes of equivalences. To build them one must decide certain criteria allowing to classify the observations. This calls upon the preliminary assumptions, the choice of certain criteria rather than of others is made according to assumptions on the structure subjacent with the remarks (ex: Piaget, in the language and the thought in the child. By collecting the sentences of the children in eight categories).

The formulation of the observations in a quantitative language

The quantitative methods in psychology offer many possibilities, in the same way they pose problems which are not specific to the observation. When the observation becomes more systematic one uses more instruments, the results of the observations are very often translated under a digital form. The reserves, criticisms which were raised in connection with the systematization of the observation are often associated with criticisms which emanate from the psychological observation: the precision of the quantification would be incompatible with the inevitable inaccuracy of the psychological observations. Quantitative formulation The quantitative formulation allows the location of the regularities in the observations: it is impossible to raise of the regularities by a direct reading of hundreds of data for example.

Quantification and precision

The numerical language can express various degrees of uncertainty or certainty. A psychologist can observe a number of children placed in front of a material; it is probable that these children express different behaviors in front of this material, consequently, it would be ambiguous to make a forecast on the behavior which a child could have on this material. On the other hand, it is completely possible to categorize the behaviors observed, to count manpower of them. The quantification with the advantage of giving an account of the uncertainty of the psychologist. It is the case, for example, in the degree of agreement inter-judges, it cannot be clearly perceived that if it is expressed in quantitative form. The inter-judges Agreement is an agreement between two observers or more on nature of what is observed, classified or ordered at the time of a systematic observation.

Conclusion

The technique of observation must thus above all be adapted to the sought objective, so that this one is perceptible. All average has its advantages and its limits. Thus the camera makes it possible to re-examine as much time than desired the object observed, the transitory one of a situation can thus thus be reproduced. But at the same time, it video only one restricted vision of the observation field in certain cases offers, and information so dense that the transcription can become difficult about it. The observation is conceived according to a theoretical framework of reference. The observation is intended to make us perceive the things differently, to have a more rigorous image of it, it learns how to us to be detached from what seems to us familiar to perceive it differently. To pass from a simple perception to a method allowing to make research. The observation will be the result coded of the act to observe followed act to interpret. Each parameter of the observation must thus be rigorously defined and justified, the observation being a basic process subordinate and integrated in the step more total than is the experimental method.

See too

Program of observation
participating Observation

Simple: Observation

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