Essay Sample on Observer-Participant Relationship in Cases

Introduction

Observations of a professional conduct in the classroom by the student author of a course evaluation guide will require a direct observation technique. The direct observation method enables the evaluator to watch and collect information about the subject without interfering with the environment (Driscoll, 2011 pg. 160). The observer has the chance to take note of what is happening at real time and therefore gives them a better success chance. In this case, the student author will be in a position to observe the activities and reactions of the students in the classroom in real time. For instance, the degree of class participation, reactions to answering questions and the mood at the end of the lesson. This helps increase the author's understanding of the students and the surrounding hence producing an effective course guide.

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Observation of retail shoppers by a researcher who is interested in determining customer purchase time by type of goods purchased will require indirect observation method. This observation technique will provide the observer with the chance to actively watch and collect raw and unbiased data from the participants (Driscoll, 2011 pg. 161). Using indirect observation ensures little or no interference of the participants at any time. It often uses technological devices like CCTV cameras and drones. Thus, in this case, the researcher will certainly be in a position to effectively view and record customer and product data as needed.

An observation of a focus group interview by a client will require a participant observation. In this type of observation method, the observer will need to have a proactive role in the group (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). It can include being involved in conversations or other activities that the group members are conducting. The active participation of the observer will not influence the group's reactions and procedures, instead, it will depicts the normality of their activities (Kawulich, 2005). In this case, the client will get the chance to collect correct and raw data from observing the group members with their real reactions.

An observation of the effectiveness of individual farmworker organizers in their efforts to organize employees of grape growers will require will require concealed observation. This method will enable the observer to effectively collect data from the participants' reactions and activities without being bias (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). Therefore, the observer will be in a position to view the progress of the farmworker organizers without interfering with their processes or interests.

Pedestrian Traffic Case Information

• The other information that I would find useful to observe is
• The number of times the pedestrian passes through that specific shop
• The pedestrian's place of residence or work
• Whether that is the only route to their place of work or residence
• Whether that is route their favorite route to their place of work or residence
• The number of times the pedestrian visits that particular shopping center; weekly, monthly etc.
• Whether they are visiting or live around the center
• Particularly what do they prefer buying in the shopping center or the shop itself rather than any other place
• The pedestrian's physical features and possible age
• What time they often pass by the shop

The information that I needed to collect would be determined by whether it is linked to my goal in any way, either directly or indirectly. The information should, therefore, be in a position to always lead me towards knowing how many pedestrians pass through the shop in that shopping center. I would achieve this by collecting and recording any information about almost every pedestrian that is connected to the number of times they pass by the shop.

Some of the Operational Definitions That I Would Use in This Process Are

• The pedestrian will not to be included in the study if they are visitors of the area
• The participant is considered as an everyday pedestrian if their place of work or residence is close by
• The participant is considered as an everyday pedestrian if they prefer buying their most basic products in the shopping center than any other location.
• The number of times of passing by the shop is limited to two for the pedestrian to be considered as a participant.

The information I would give to the observers that I would use is to ensure that every possible pedestrian is considered as a participant. However, the operational definitions should be of strict consideration. Additionally, the observers should base the research on any other useful factor (outside those listed) to collect the data required e.g. whether the pedestrian often use vehicle transportation when coming to the shopping center, whether they have a car, whether they prefer walking that vehicle transportation etc. On the contrary, there should be no exclusion or biasness of any kind when determining the factors in research (Pannucci & Wilkins, 2010). This should enable increase their effectiveness and correctness of the whole research.

In this research, I would use the time sampling technique to sample the shoppers' traffic. In this method, I would be in a position to control the environmental factors that may affect the success of the research. This is because I would choose a sample of participants with their own time period to observe at once which later helps generate the general conclusions of the research (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). The sample will certainly represent a certain group of potential pedestrians who pass by the shop.

Data Collection Choices and Reasons

To survey the residents of a new sub division I would prefer using the personal interview technique. Since my aim is to get information on why they selected that particular area to live in and their like and dislikes of that area, a personal interview will help gauge their honesty and openness when answering (Hofisi et al. 2014 pg. 61). Additionally, their reasons may be personal and very private for them which means they prefer not involving many people in their personal lives.

To survey a poll of students in a metro university to find out their preference of the three presidential candidate I would use personal interview method. The choice to support a particular candidate may be public but the reason may be personal. Therefore, with personal interview the student will be open to share the reasons for preferring a particular student over the other as well as share their own opinions on the three candidates.

In a survey of 58 wholesale grocery companies to find out their personal managerial policies for warehouse personnel I would prefer a self-administered questionnaire. This is simply a closed end questionnaire where the respondents answer the questions asked without any interference from the observer (Bowling, 2005). Therefore, since my aim is to know the companies' personal management policies, the questionnaires will give the respondents the opportunity to list their policies in their own language and wording. By having control over the process, the respondents are likely to be open and honest in their answers even though the questions are restricted.

For a survey of the financial offers of the fortune 500 corporations to learn their predictions for the economic outlook in their industries in the next year, I would use self-administered questionnaires. Using this method hinders the respondent from giving too much information, instead they have a chance to provide a straight answer; the answers are limited and direct (Bowling, 2005). Therefore, since these companies are large in numbers, their responses would be limited to the required information only and a correct and direct explanation of their predictions.

In a study of applicant requirements for a particular job I would prefer using the telephone survey method. In this method, the respondent is required to give specific and direct answers to questions asked (Block & Erskine, 2012). Telephone survey method is quick and easy to implement especially when the respondents are a large group of people. In this case, the respondent would be in a position to provide the required information about the students, their locations and the specific tasks.

Improving Response Rate of a Survey

In a mail survey of the traffic managers of 1000 companies to find out their company policies regarding the payment of moving expenses for employees who are transferred, I would do the following to ensure improvement in their response rates.

Ensure that I have signed a non-disclosure agreement to not share sensitive information about employees or the companies with the public; respecting the companies' privacy

Create a healthy environment that encourages openness and honesty for all the people involved which would make the respondents feel important and valued (Fincham, 2008).

Ensure that I have enough information or knowledge about the company, like its vision, mission, core values etc.

Ensure that the survey questions are relevant and direct, i.e. structure the questionnaires in a question answer format.

Frame the questions in a two way format i.e. consider the point of view of the respondent and mine.

References

Bowling, A. (2005). Mode of questionnaire administration can have serious effects on data quality. Journal of public health, 27(3), 281-291.

Block, E. S., & Erskine, L. (2012). Interviewing by telephone: Specific considerations, opportunities, and challenges. International journal of qualitative methods, 11(4), 428-445. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/160940691201100409Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2011). Business research methods (12th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.

Driscoll, D. L. (2011). Introduction to primary research: Observations, surveys, and interviews. Writing spaces: Readings on writing, 2, 153-174.

Hofisi, C., Hofisi, M., & Mago, S. (2014). Critiquing interviewing as a data collection method. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(16), 60.

Fincham, J. E. (2008). Response rates and responsiveness for surveys, standards, and the Journal. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 72(2), 43.

Kawulich, B. B. (2005, May). Participant observation as a data collection method. In Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research (Vol. 6, No. 2).

Pannucci, C. J., & Wilkins, E. G. (2010). Identifying and avoiding bias in research. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 126(2), 619. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2917255/