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Observational Research
Observational research is the systematic, usually first-hand observation of some event in progress, such as a classroom, gang activity, legislative body, or discussion group. Designs range from virtually unstructured, as in participant observation, for exploratory purposes, to tightly structured observations of specific behaviors. This kind of research is generally guided by questionnaires, check lists of anticipated events or phenomena, and comment fields for entering unanticipated events or phenomena as they occur.
An example of an application of ProtoGenie in an observational study in vision science is a systematic recording of observations of accident avoidance behaviors and confrontations in a busy corridor at a convention for blind people.
Observational methods are frequently thought of as a "qualitative research methods" and so Observational Research also appears in the list of "types" under "qualitative research methods." For more on qualitative research methods, click here.
A dropdown menu for selection of a research methods appears on the Research Methods Page of the Composer. It also appears on the Search Protocols Page and in the popup Protocol Description Window on the Edit Protocol Page. To select a research method, simply click on the dropdown list of research methods and click on the one closest to your study.
If your study fall in the category of Observational Research, click on the dropdown list of research methods and click on "Observational Research."