Observation Can Take Many Forms

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Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Students should identify and describe the following four forms of observation: (a) Complete participant: Researcher takes part in the activity, event, or phenomenon under study. As such, she or he essentially becomes a participant, which is particularly useful in developing rapport with participants; (b) Participant as observer: Researcher engages as both a participant and researcher. Her or his role as researcher is more obvious because active participation is combined with time taken to record observations; (c) Observer as participant: Researcher participates in the activity with participants, but participation is of secondary importance to actually recording observations. When acting as observer as participant, the researcher typically observes from a distance, but the participants are still aware that the researcher is present; and (d) Complete observer: Researcher has no interaction with the participants, and they are typically not noticed or seen by participants.

Observation Can Take Many Forms

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