Discuss the pre-conditions for scientific observation.

1. Sensory Observatrion : Data in social sciences, as in the other sciences, are based on sensory observation. A check in an answer-box in a datum, not the inference that the respondent is for or against something. A smile is a datum. The inference is that the smiling person is in a happy mood.

2. ‘Seeing thing’ : Reliability and better understanding : Social science depends to a considerable extent on ‘seeing’ things. Observation is a technique, which facilitates direct understanding of social phenomena. Observation ensures reliablity, and better understanding. The word ‘observation’ is used here and elsewhere to include all forms of sense perceptions used in recording responses, as they impinge on our senses. We make, however, a distinction between a response and a datum.

Response : It is a some manifest kind of action.

Datum : It is the product of the recording of the response.

3. Reliability and Inter-subjectivity : There are two other important conditions imposed on scientific observations, as opposed to other observations. These are reliability and inter-subjectivity. They have to do with the two components of the observation process here called pereception and recording.

4. Some principles Introduced by Galtung : Galtung introduced the following principles :

1. Principle of Reliability or Inter-subjectivity : Repeated observation of the same responses by the same observer shall yield the same data.

2. Principle of Inter-objectivity :

Repeated observation of the same responses by various observers shall yield the same data.

3. Principles of validity : In connection to the above referred both principles another principle of validity is usually, mentioned, with the understanding that an observation is valid if one has observed what he desires to observe.

Validity, in this way, clearly has to do with the relation between the manifest and latent, since observations by definitions always are at the manifest level.

Data shall be obtained of such a form and in such a way that legitimate inferences can be made from the manifest level to the latent level.

Conclusion : Looking to the above conditions, we may view that scientific observation is planned and scientific. Also, it is relevant to a problem, which serves formulated research purpose. It is valid as well as reliable.