Finding Answers Through

Data Collection: Observation

and Interview
Learning Targets
At the end of the discussion
 I can explain the purpose of observation and fieldwork
as data collection methods in qualitative research
 I can distinguish various kinds of interview
 I can describe the guidelines for the effective use of
interviews as a data collection method
 I can design a plan for collecting data using interviews
as a method
Overview of the Lesson
In this lesson, the finding of answers through data collection will
be discussed. It is divided into two parts: (1) the use of observation
and (2) the interview as a method of data collection. Observation is a
method through which the researchers have a direct approach to the
samples or participants that are being observed in their natural
setting. On the other hand, the interview is a method that commonly
uses verbal conversation to get pertinent data from the samples or
respondents. It is used to get an in-depth understanding of a social
phenomenon that is to explore the views, experiences, beliefs, and
motivations of individuals on specific matters. Further, guidelines and
protocols for conducting these two methods will also be discussed.
Observation
 Observation is a technique of gathering data whereby you
personally watch, interact, or communicate with the subject of
your research.
 The researchers deal with the natural setting of the
sample/respondents
 The element of subjectivity makes observation inferior to other
techniques. (Meng 2012)
 Watching and listening to your subjects and then recording what
you’ve observed about them are the reasons many consider
observation the foundation of all research methods.
 Realistically speaking, sensation precedes perception.
Observation
Types of Observation
1. Participant Observation
 the researcher takes part in the activities of the individual or
group being observed.
 the actual involvement enables you to obtain firsthand
knowledge about the subject’s behavior and the way they
interact with one another.
 use the diary method or logbook to record the findings. The
first part of the diary is called descriptive observation
(describe the people, places, events, etc.) and the second part
is called narrative account (your interpretations/reflections)
Observation
Types of Observation
2. Non-participant or Structured Observation
 type of observation completely detaches the researchers from
the target of their observation.
 They just watch and listen to them do their own thing,
without participating in any of their activities.
 Recording of non-participation observations happens
through the use of a checklist. Others call this checklist as an
observation schedule.
 Observation
Methods of Observation
1. Direct Observation
 This observation method makes you see or listen to everything that
happens in the area of observation.
 Remember, however, that to avoid waste of energy, time, and effort
in observing, you have to stick to the questions that your research
aims at answering.
2. Indirect Observation
 Called behavior archaeology because, here, you observe traces of
past events to get information or a measure of behavior, trait, or
quality of your subject.
 Listen to tape recordings and those you see in pictures, letters, etc.
 Observation
Methods of Indirect Observation
1. Continuous Monitoring or CM
 You observe to evaluate the way people deal with one another.
 Used in behavioral psychology, where people’s worries, anxieties, habits,
etc. serve as the focus of studies in this field of discipline.
2. Spot Sampling
 Your record your observations through spot sampling in an oral manner,
not in a written way.
 Two types: (1) time allocation sampling: what goes into the record are the
best activities of people you observed in undetermined places and time; (2)
experience sampling: which lets you record people’s responses any time of
the day or week to question their present activity.
 Use modern technological gadgets (cell phones, emails) for data recording.
Interview
 Interview is a data gathering technique that makes you verbally
ask the subjects or respondents questions to give answers to what
your research study is trying to look for.
 Commonly known as the verbal conversation between two people
with the intention to collect pertinent data for the purpose of
research.
 The researcher and the respondents are in a face-to-face situation.
 The researcher speaks directly to the respondents, individually or
collectively.
 “it is a conversation with a purpose.”
Interview
Types of Interview
1. Structured Interview
 This is an interview that requires the use of an interview
schedule of a list of questions answerable with one and only
item from a set of alternative responses.
2. Unstructured Interview
 The respondents answer the questions based on what they
personally think and feel about it. There are no suggested
answers.
 Thy purely depend on the respondents’ decision-making skills,
giving them the opportunity to think critically about the
question.
Interview
Types of Interview
3. Semi-Structural Interview
 The combination of the two. The researcher prepares a schedule
or a list of questions that is accompanied by a list of expressions
from where the respondents can pick out the correct answer.
 However, after choosing one from the suggested answers, the
respondents answer another set of questions to make them explain
the reasons behind their choices. Allowing the freedom for the
researcher to change the questions and for the respondents to
think of their own answers, this semi-structured interview is a
flexible and an organized type of interview. (Ruben 2012;
Bernard 2013)
Interview
Approaches
1. Individual Interview
 Only one respondent is interviewed here.
 The reason behind this one-on-one interview is the lack
of trust the interviewees have among themselves.
 The refusal of one interviewee to let other interviewees
get a notion of or hear his or her responses to the
questions.
 Time-consuming type of interview.
Interview
Approaches
2. Group Interview
 The group members take turns in answering the question.
 The chances of having some respondents getting
influenced by the other group members are one downside
of this interview approach. (Denzin 2013; Feinberd
2013).
Interview
Approaches
3. Mediated Interview
 No face-to-face interview is true for this interview approach because
this takes place through electronic communication devices such as
telephones, mobile phones, and email, among others.
 Many consider this better because of the big number of respondents
it is capable of reaching despite the cost, distance, and human
disabilities affecting the interview.
 It is synchronous if you talk with the subjects through telephone,
mobile phone, or online chat. It is asynchronous if only two persons
are interviewed at a different time through the Internet, email,
Facebook, Twitter, and other social network media. (Goodwin 2014;
Barbour 2014)
Interview
Steps in Conducting an Interview
1. Getting to Know Each Other
2. Having an Idea of the Research
3. Starting the Interview
4. Conducting the Interview Proper
5. Putting an End to the Interview
6. Pondering Over Interview Afterthoughts
Questionnaire
 A questionnaire is a paper containing a list of questions
including the specific place and space in the paper where you
write the answers to the questions.
 Postal questionnaire goes to the respondent through postal
service or electronic mail. It is through the mail or postal system
that the accomplished questionnaires will be sent back to the
researchers.
 Self-administered questionnaire makes you act as the
interviewer and the interviewee at the same time. First, you ask
the questions either in person or through phone; then, you will
be writing the interviewee’s answers on a piece of paper.