Observation - as a deliberate, organized and systematic form of ‘looking’ or ‘watching’ - is integral to all scientific inquiry. It is a process that is guided by rational principles and assumptions, and motivated by an interest in obtaining data on occurrences, events, processes, reactions, forms of conduct and relationships.

This collection, drawing together key contributions on observation methods in social research, provides comprehensive coverage of the historical development of observational methods and techniques and offers analytic reflection on the various issues involved in the scientific practice of observation. The volumes demonstrate the rich diversity of observational methods, techniques and associated innovations, as well as providing examples of results obtained by studies now considered to be social science classics. The volumes contain important material concerned with ...

Editors' Introduction: Observation Methods and Social Research

KayPeggs, JosephBurridge and BarrySmart

Observation as a deliberate, organised, and systematic way of ‘looking’ or ‘watching’ is integral to all scientific inquiry. It is a practice that is guided by rational principles and assumptions and is motivated by an interest in obtaining data on occurrences, events, processes, reactions, forms of conduct, and relationships. Observation may take many forms and it occupies a particularly significant, if not paramount, place within the range of research methods employed within the social sciences. In line with this central importance, in this set of volumes we draw together key contributions on the observation methods deployed in social research. In so doing we give consideration to the historical development of observational methods and techniques and ...

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