AT A GLANCE

Conducting an Observation

  • Determine the purpose of the observation, and be sure it relates to your research question and hypothesis.
  • Brainstorm about what you are looking for, but don’t be rigidly bound to your expectations.
  • Develop an appropriate system for recording data. Consider using a split notebook or page: on one side, record your observations directly; on the other, record your thoughts and interpretations.
  • Record the date, time, and place of the observation.