Chapter 19: Observation and Interviewing

Activity 19.1: Observer Roles Activity 19.2: Types of Interviews Activity 19.3: Types of Interview Questions Activity 19.4: Do Some Observational Research

Activity 19.1: Observer Roles Match the role listed in Column B with its description in Column A. Column A 1. ______ Researcher observes the activities of a group without in any way becoming a participant in those activities 2. ______ Individual identifies him or herself as a researcher, but does not pretend to be a member of the group being observed 3. ______ This role is sometimes suspect on ethical grounds 4. ______ Researcher participates fully in the activities of the group being observed 5. ______ Researcher is least likely to affect the actions of the group in this role 6. ______ Researchers identity is not known to any of the individuals he or she is observing Column B a. Complete participant b. Participant as observer c. Observer as participant d. Complete observer

Activity 19.2: Types of Interviews Match the type of interview listed in Column B with its description in Column A. (Note: Some descriptions may apply to more than one type of interview.) Column A: Description 1. ______ Tends to resemble a casual conversation 2. ______Requires the least training of the interviewer 3. ______ Probably the most difficult of all to conduct 4. ______Can be any one of the other three types 5. ______ Offers the most natural type of situation for the collection of data 6. ______ Most useful for obtaining information to test the specific hypothesis a researcher wished to investigate 7. ______ Least likely of the four to provide reliable data for the researcher Column B: Type of Interview a. Structured b. Semi-structured c. Informal d. Retrospective

Activity 19.3: Types of Interview Questions Match the type of interview question listed in Column B with the appropriate example in Column A. Column A: Examples 1. ______ What sorts of things do you do in drama class? 2. ______ What is the highest degree you received? 3. ______ To what extent are you excited about playing in next weeks game? 4. ______ What kinds of questions would you say are the most helpful for a teacher to ask during a class discussion? 5. ______ What do you think about the new detention policy? 6. ______ How old was General Johnson when he died? 7. ______ How many credits does one need to get a degree? Column B: Type of Interview Question a. Demographic b. Knowledge c. Behavior d. Values/opinions e. Feelings f. Sensory

Activity 19.4: Do Some Observational Research In this activity, you will actually do some observational research. Go to a nearby parking lot where there are a lot of cars going in and out fairly frequently (a shopping mall lot or garage would be ideal). Observe drivers when they back out of their parking spaces. The research question for you to investigate is whether people do or do not take longer to back out of a space when someone is waiting for that space. You are to obtain data on the time a person takes to back out when another car is waiting and when there is no car waiting. You also will obtain data on the gender of the driver and the number of passengers in the waiting car. A simple observation sheet for you to use is given below. Use a new line for each driver you observe. You should feel free to modify this sheet if you can think of ways to improve it. Observe as many drivers as you can in a 30 minute period. Number Start time* End time** Waiting*** Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Gender M/F M/F M/F M/F M/F M/F Type of Car

*Start timing when the driver opens the drivers side door. **Stop timing when the front bumper clears the parking space. ***A car is waiting if someone is waiting for the spot and the driver notices (turns toward) the waiting car before opening his or her car door.

After you have collected all of your data, record your results using an expanded copy of the form above. Average time to back out when car is waiting ____________________ When driver is female ____________________ When driver is male ____________________ Average time to back out when car is not waiting ____________________ When driver is female ____________________ When driver is male ____________________ What do you conclude with regard to the research question? _______________________________________________________________________ _ _______________________________________________________________________ _ _______________________________________________________________________ _

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