Define observation. Give its characteristics.

I. Definition of Observation :

Lindzey Gardener has defined observation as follows :

“It is a selection, provocation recording, and encoding of that set of behaviours and settings concerning organisms (naturalistic settings of familiar surroundings) which are consistent with empirical aims.

II. Characteristics of Observation :

Black and Champion have given the following characteristics of observation :

1. Behaviour is observed.

2. It enables understanding significant events affecting social relations of the participants.

3. It determines reality from the perspective of observed person himself.

4. It defines regularities and recurrences in social life by comparing data in one study with those in other studies.

5. Observaton involves some controls pertaining to the observer and to the means he uses to record data. However, such controls do not exist for the setting or the subjet population.

6. It is focused on hypotheses-free inquiry.

7. Observation avoids manipulations in the independent variable i.e. one that is supposed to cause other variable and is not caused by them.

8. During observation recording is not selective. Each and everything is to be recorded.