If you’ve chosen a subject that lends itself to observation, you might find it useful to conduct one. Observing a subject firsthand can provide you with valuable insights that simply aren’t possible when you’re learning about the subject secondhand — for example, through discussion or through reading a book, magazine, or Web page. In addition, conducting an observation can increase your credibility as a writer. A reflective essay usually carries more weight if the writer has taken the time to observe the subject personally.

Although some observations can involve a significant amount of time and effort, an observation need not be complicated to be useful. Effective observations usually involve the following activities.

Decide whether to conduct an observation. Before you take the time to conduct an observation, ask yourself what kind of results you expect to gain, what those results will contribute to your writing project, and whether you could obtain comparable support for your ideas more effectively and efficiently in another way.

Some subjects are more suited for observation than others. For example, a reflective essay about how parents behave during soccer games would lend itself well to observation. On the other hand, a writer would be more likely to turn to interviews (see Chapter 6) or published sources for an essay on community resistance to new federal education reforms.

Decide what you should observe and how often to observe it. Your decision will depend largely on the role your observations will play in your essay. If you want to learn more about a subject but don’t plan to include what you observe as part of your reflection, a fairly limited observation should suffice. The same holds true if you hope to gather a few details but will base your reflection on your own experience. However, if your subject is complex, or if you expect to use details from what you observe throughout your essay, you might need to conduct multiple observations, possibly in more than one setting.

Decide what to look for. The biggest limitation of observation is that you can see only one thing at a time. Experienced observers focus on activities that are most relevant to their writing projects. As a result, their observations are somewhat selective. Spreading yourself too thin will result in fairly “thin” results. Then again, narrowing in too quickly can cause you to miss important aspects of a setting or an event. Your reasons for conducting an observation and what you hope to gain from it are probably your best guide to what to focus on.

Find out whether you need permission to observe. Seeking permission to observe an individual or a group can be complicated. People have expectations about privacy even in public settings, but people can (and often do) change their behavior when they know they are being watched. As you consider whether to ask for permission, imagine yourself in the position of someone who is being observed. If you are still uncertain, ask your instructor for advice.

Conduct your observation. To conduct your observation, follow these steps: