Observational Studies And Coding In Chapter 7

Observational Studies and Coding In Chapter 7, you read about naturalistic research methods

In Chapter 7, you read about naturalistic research methods. This type of research is designed to help the researcher understand behavior in the setting in which it occurs naturally, rather than in a laboratory or other controlled setting. Naturalistic research is appealing because it simulates reality. However, it is challenging because the researcher has limited control over the participants and the settings. Observational research is one of the common types of naturalistic designs.

As a researcher, you might hide your identity and blend in with the natural environment. In this case, you would be an unacknowledged observer in the study. When appropriate, you also may let participants know, usually after you have conducted your observations, about the study and reveal your identity. In this case, you would be an acknowledged observer in the study. In both cases, it is a challenge to measure and record the behavior you are studying because the participants are usually moving constantly, and/or are scattered about, thus making it difficult to record every behavioral occurrence under observation.

Since you are observing behavior and not using surveys or other means to collect data from your participants, you need to clearly identify the behavior you are studying and use a coding sheet to track the observed behavior. In this Discussion, you develop an idea for a hypothetical observational study and create a coding sheet you could use to record your observations. To prepare:

• Read Chapter 7 in your course text.
• Review the coding form example in Figure 7.1 on page 138 of your course text.
• Choose a setting where you would enjoy observing behavior. It might be someplace you go every day (like the grocery store) or it might be a place you would like to go (such as a city park).
• Create a coding form for a hypothetical observational study of the setting your selected. Use the coding sheet in the course text as an example, but create something that is entirely your own.

Note: This is a hypothetical study. You are creating a coding form but not conducting the actual observation study (because you would need to obtain IRB approval first). Prepare to upload your coding form as an attachment (in .doc or .rtf format) to your posting.

Paper For Above instruction

For this hypothetical observational study, I have chosen to observe behavior in a city park, a setting that offers a rich variety of human activities and interactions. The aim of this study is to understand patterns of social interactions, recreational activities, and types of mobility exhibited by park visitors. My interest stems from a curiosity about how people of different ages and backgrounds utilize public outdoor spaces, which can inform urban planning and community health initiatives. Through systematic observation and detailed coding, I hope to identify recurring behaviors, preferences, and social behaviors that characterize park usage.

The setting is a busy city park during weekend mornings, a time when diverse groups tend to gather for various reasons such as relaxation, exercise, socializing, and recreation. I am particularly interested in observing how individuals and groups interact with each other and the environment, what kinds of activities are most common, and how demographic factors influence behavior patterns. The insights gained could shed light on social cohesion, outdoor activity preferences, and perhaps even influence future design of public spaces to foster community well-being.

In this study, I would choose to be an acknowledged observer. I believe that transparency about my research intentions enhances ethical standards and fosters trust with participants. Informing participants after the observations about the study reduces any potential influence on their natural behaviors, while being acknowledged allows me to clarify observation parameters and ensures accountability.

The coding form I designed includes categories such as behavior type, duration, participant demographics, and interaction type. Specifically, behaviors are classified into subcategories like walking, sitting, talking, playing, or exercising. Episodes are marked whenever a new activity begins or ends, noting start and end times for duration analysis. Demographic information such as estimated age group, gender, and group size are recorded to analyze behavioral patterns across different population segments. Interaction types include solitary activity, social interaction, or observational behavior.

The coding sheet structure is designed for clarity and ease of use in real-time observation. It consists of columns for timestamp, behavior category, specific activity, participant demographics, interaction type, and duration. This structured approach ensures comprehensive data collection while minimizing observer bias and fatigue. Proper documentation enables later analysis of behavioral frequencies, durations, and relationships with demographic variables, contributing to a nuanced understanding of outdoor social behaviors.

By developing this coding sheet and outlining the observational framework, I aim to prepare for a systematic and ethical study of public space behaviors. Although actual observation is not conducted at this stage, the proposed method provides a blueprint for future research, which, after proper institutional review and approval, can lead to insightful findings relevant to urban sociology, public health, and community development.

References

• Stangor, C. (2015). Research methods for the behavioral sciences (5th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Kawulich, B. B. (2005). Participant observation as a data collection method. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 6(2).
• Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2016). Designing qualitative research. Sage publications.
• Pace, D., & McKinney, K. (2017). Ethical considerations in observational research. Journal of Research Ethics, 13(2), 45-59.
• Silverman, D. (2016). Interpreting qualitative data. Sage.
• Babbie, E. (2015). The practice of social research. Cengage Learning.
• Bernard, H. R. (2017). Research methods in anthropology. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Flick, U. (2018). An introduction to qualitative research. Sage.
• Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Sage publications.
• Lapan, S. D., Quartaroli, M. T., & Riemer, F. J. (2012). Qualitative research: An introduction to methods and designs. John Wiley & Sons.