Research: Observation tips

Research suggestions:
Observations or Field Research

Before the visit:	Do background research the location.	Find out when the place that you want to visit is open or available and whether or not special access is required. Find out whom to contact to set up an appointment if one is needed. Learn as much about the location in advance so you can make the most of the time that you are there.
	Contact someone in charge at the location.	Discuss the purpose of your visit with someone in charge. You will have a chance to gather information from this person and you will be more comfortable. You may even be offered a guided tour.
	Explain your purpose in detail and ask for any necessary permissions.	Let a person in charge know what your intentions are, what group you represent, what information your are seeking, and how you plan to use it. If you plan to take pictures at the site, check for permission. Some locations have rules about photography.
	Bring note taking materials	Bring a notebook with a hard back so that you can write as you walk. Bring a least two writing utensils (just in case).
	Practice with any equipment in advance.	If you tape your notes or use a camera, check your equipment in advance. Make sure that you are familiar with how the equipment works and test your batteries.
	Make a list of questions.	Listing questions will help you to determine the specific information that you want to learn from your visit. Listing the questions with space for answers can be helpful, but be flexible once you are at the site.
	Make sure that your questions are appropriate.	Test your questions against what you have learned about the location and revise them as necessary.
When it is time for the visit:	Arrive early if you have a scheduled time.	Being late wastes valuable time and makes you look uncommitted. If you are going to an unfamiliar place, allow extra time.
	Dress appropriately.	Appropriate dress varies depending on the circumstance. If you are going to a workplace, dress on a similar level to the people who work there.
	Use a variety of vantage points	Look for a number of vantage points (close, far away, from the right, from the left, etc.). If you are using a camera with a zoom function, take advantage of this feature to get even closer.
	Take careful notes.	Organizing your note later will be easier if you write on only one side of the page. Write keywords and short phrases. Abbreviate consistently.
	Mark direct quotations.	Use quotation marks in your notes to remind you what was said by someone else during the observation.
	Gather information for description.	Be careful to observe the place, the objects, the people, the environment with the idea of being able to describe. Most of the details will be visual, but also think about sounds and smells.
	Gather information for analysis.	Think about what your expectations were and what contrasted with them. What are your impressions? Write down ideas and questions as you go.
	Ask for spellings or material in quotations.	Ask for spellings of names and unfamiliar words. Also ask for restatements of any direct quotations that you think you will use. This is especially easy to forget if you are taping.
	Be appreciative.	Thank anyone who helped you with the observation, guiding you from place to place, answering your questions.
After the observation:	Review the experience and your notes.	Rehearsing the observation in your mind on the way home can be helpful. Even better, spend time later that day looking over your notes and filling in what you remember but did not have time to write down.
	Transcribe what you need from your tape.	Transcribing a tape can take a long time, so allow enough time and write down only what you need.
	Ask for clarification.	Field research often requires multiple visits, follow-up phone calls or e-mails. People would rather take additional time with you than be misquoted or have misinformation printed.
	Ask yourself questions.	Ask yourself about your perceptions of the visit, what you learned, what seemed contradictory, or different from what you expected?
	Write your document or speech, while the information is still fresh.	You will have more options for using the observation in your project if you still have a vivid memory of the experience. Write a rough draft of the part of the document or presentation that is relevant to the observation.
	Give credit where it is due. Cite your source.	Indicate in your document or speech which information came from people or printed materials you gathered during your observation. List the interview in your list of sources (Works Cited, References, Bibliography).
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