Applied Research Skills Nowadays

Applied Research Skills
Name of the Student
Name of the University

Table of Contents
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
Answer 1..........................................................................................................................................3
Answer 2..........................................................................................................................................4
Answer 3..........................................................................................................................................7
Answer 4..........................................................................................................................................9
Task 2.............................................................................................................................................11
Answer 1........................................................................................................................................11
Answer 2........................................................................................................................................13
Answer 3........................................................................................................................................16
Answer 4........................................................................................................................................17
References......................................................................................................................................20

Task 1
Answer 1
As commented by Kumar (2019), observation has been utilized in social sciences as a
method of gathering data related to people, cultures and processes. Observations have been
related to observation of participant and important in anthropological and sociological studies in
typical methodological approach in ethnography. It has been a tool which is utilized regularly for
gathering data by researchers and teachers in their classrooms, by social workers in community
groups for studying human behavior. As stated by Bresler and Stake (2017), anthropologists in
late 19th century used to provide information about observation as a social science method. These
researches have helped in setting standards for conducting observation in research. Observation
has been proven to be an essential for researching beyond field of anthropology which are
utilized for frequently ion sociology, education, psychology and social science disciplines. As
suggested by Fletcher (2017), there have been two types of observation including participant
observation and direct observation. Participant observation deals with researching under both
participant and observer. Direct observation has been involving observing without interacting
with objects and people under the study.
The main purpose of observation is to identify relationships with respondents and
learning how to set interactive organized and prioritized in setting. As stated by af Wåhlberg
(2017), observation can be utilized in both quantitative and qualitative studies. For example, the
researcher might observe an experiment and collect data from it which will be quantitative. A
teacher might observe students for determining their behavioral attitudes which will be a
qualitative. Participant observation has been helpful for understanding participants by engaging

in activities in which participants have been involved (Mohajan 2018). Observation has been
utilized for triangulate data and verify findings derived from one source of data with another
sources of data.
There are some benefits and limitations for utilizing observation. Benefits include it helps
researcher for accessing various aspects of social setting which might not be visible to general
people. Observations helps in providing rich source of data and detailed descriptions of social
setting. It also helps in developing new questions for respondents. However, there are certain
disadvantages of utilizing observation (Taherdoost 2016). Researchers might not be interested in
what happens behind the scenes. Data collection depends on culture and behavior of respondents
on given point of time. The quality of data collection depends on the contribution of researcher
and ability to collect data from respondents. Observation is depended on watching other answers
and data. Therefore, researcher need to consider biases that deals with behavior of respondents.
The degree to which extent of observations is not validated and reliable data collection method
as researcher cannot behavior of participants based on particular topic. Issues of the past cannot
be studied by the means of observation. Controlled observation need special instruments for
effective working that are costly. Researcher need to acknowledge their biases and exclude those
biases for making accurate interpretations (Ørngreen and Levinsen 2017). The quality of
observations can be determined by ability to describe what is being observed in detail.
Answer 2
There are four dimensions which help in differentiating different approach to
observation:

Controlled or Uncontrolled observation: As commented by De Costa, Crowther and Maloney
(2019), controlled observations deals with observations done under influence of some of external
forces and these observations might be rarely lead to improvement in precision of the outcomes
of research. However, these observations have been effective in working as these are prepared
for working in coordination with mechanical synchronizing devices. On other side, uncontrolled
observations are done in natural environment and is reverse to controlled observation involving
no influence and guidance of ant type of external forces (Brace 2018).
Participants or non-participants: Participation by spectators having different types of
processes done by group under study referring to member type of observation. The grade of
participation has been affected by nature of reading and depend on type of situation. However, in
non-participant type of observation, no participant of observer takes place and include no
relationship between researcher and group (Taherdoost 2017).
Structured or Unstructured observation: As suggested by Strauss, Witoelar and Sikoki
(2016), structured observation has been working as per plan and include proper information of
units which needed to be observed. Different features needed to be noted and recorded for
deciding properly in advance. These observations include utilization of special gadgets for
purpose of data collection in a structured manner. However, unstructured observation are
diametrically against structured observation. Observer has freedom for noting down about
feelings of researcher which are relevant to point of study. This approach of observation has been
suitable for exploratory research.
Concealed or unconcealed observation: As commented by Taherdoost (2016), concealed
observation is suitable in case of presence of observer affecting behavior of observed subjects for
increasing accuracy of data. The major issue in concealed observation has been related to ethical

issues related with privacy of users and their consent under observation. Research subjects are
not aware of being observed which helps in getting uninfluenced data. This might cause ethical
issues within the research. However, conduction of participant observation researcher might be
unconcealed observer. Researchers might gather informative data in both verbally and writing
ways in unconcealed observation techniques. As remarked by Mandal, Yang and Fan (2019),
morals has been a central point in observational investigations. Perception can be a maltreatment
for protection of individual nonetheless, this is a least nosy information gathering technique.
Ponis et al. (2017) proposed that, perception doesn't have human subjects as individuals
connecting with analysts are not dependent upon any analysis. In any case, analysts have been
answerable for their activities and specialists are not obliged for educating individuals for
explore goals. As recommended by Lee et al. (2017), colleges have been getting government
subsidizing for inquire about has been directing looks into on human members. Their approaches
have been prohibited camouflaged research which may clarify why spectator and onlooker as a
member jobs are utilized. The multifaceted nature of field work which are occupied with
observational research are troublesome. Robb, Gatting and Wardle (2017) expressed that
specialists used to follow rules of American Anthropological Association that incorporate
privileges of members and interests should be made sure about by analysts. Members must not
be abused or hurt in any manners. All reports should be made accessible for supports as well as
for members as a rule. The moral benchmarks in the observational examination should be
referenced in the exploration. This aides in legitimate conduction of research with the assistance
of observational examination. Ethnographic research has been getting from social and social
human sciences in which analyst has been requiring for investing significant energy in the field
and examining this marvel inside social setting. The moral thought of perception have been