Observation Veal Chapter 7
Jan 04, 2016
Observation
Veal
Chapter 7
The nature of observation
Observation involves looking! Generally no involvement with the
observed (who may not even be aware that they are being observed)
Observation can also be structured observation methods
Spatial or functional
Outdore: Entrances Parking areas People often locate themselves along
”edges” – such as walls, fences, banks, areas of trees
The pattern of use of a site
Spatial or functional
Built up areas: Shopping malls Buildings Museums Another example is ”space
management” in the supermarket
Designing areas
In reality people do not behave as the designers thougth they would do!
Some spaces are under-used and some are over crowded
Or spaces are used for other activities The patterne of movement in an
exhibition can affect the information absorbed
Observations: Use of a Park
Categories
System of Coding
Finding user profiles
Often preliminary observations can be used to identify features of a user profile
Makes it easier to pose the right questions in a questionaire or an interview
Leisure on the margins
Recreational drugs Grafitti and vandalism Various types of sexual activity Gambling Crowd behavior
Main elements
10-step model for structured observation Site Observation point Time-periods Sampling Frequency Zones Etc.
Step 1 and 2
Make an inspection of the site at first to
Choose the the site to observe Obervation points and Siutable conditions for the observation
Step 3, 4 and 5
Step 3: Important Variations in use of facilities
Step 4: Continuos or sampling? Ressources available The nature of the site Overall design of the project
Step 5: Count frequency Depending on the rate of change in the use of
the site
Step 6
Step 6: What to observe? People and their positions Different types of activities Visitor characteristics Visitors movements
Flows in general Routes of visitors
Step 7
Step 7: Division of site into zones Focus on each zone to decide
activities etc. Zones should be determined by
management concerns Ideally zones:
Can be observed from one spot and are Demarcared by natural (or other) features
Step 8
Step 8: Recording observational information
Make a structured counting sheet Makes data ready for analysis,
presentation and spread sheets Copies of maps Free form notes
Step 9
Conducting the observation Structured observations
The main danger can be boredom Important to vary work
Unstructured observations The observer is required to observe and
describe what is going on and at the same time Determine what to observe
Step 10
Step 10: Analysing data Structured observations:
Visual presentations Usage patterns Spot count data Weighting
Unstructured observations: Readable notes Transcripts