Observation

(noun)

Observation is either an activity of a living being, such as a human, consisting of receiving knowledge of the outside world through the senses, or the recording of data using scientific instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during this activity. An observation can also be the way you look at things or when you look at something

Related Terms

Examples of Observation in the following topics:

  • Performed individually

    • Subjective stimuli: Observations about an individual's surrounding environment and nature made by the individual, as well as more affective and temporal judgments about things not really seen but that are definitely felt.

  • Observation

    • Observational studies allow researchers to document behavior in a natural setting and witness events that could not be produced in a lab.
    • Observation allows researchers to experience a specific aspect of social life and get a firsthand look at a trend, institution, or behavior.
    • Observational research is a type of descriptive research that differs from most other forms of data gathering in that the researcher's goal is not to manipulate the variables being observed.
    • Observation is also particularly advantageous as a cross-cultural reference.
    • Observation in a natural setting allows researchers to document behavior without this influence.

  • Influential Observations

    • Observation A has fairly high leverage, a relatively high residual, and moderately high influence.
    • Observation B has small leverage and a relatively small residual.
    • Observation C has small leverage and a relatively high residual.
    • Observation D has the lowest leverage and the second highest residual.
    • Observation E has by far the largest leverage and the largest residual.

  • Observation Survey

    • With a clear picture of the theories upon which Reading Recovery relies, a further look at the Observation Survey is necessary.
    • Further information about this assessment can be found in Clay's (2002) book An Observation Survey of Early Literacy Achievement.
    • Text reading level: The final task of the Observation Survey involves taking a running record on texts that increase in difficultly.
    • After giving Eric the Observation Survey, Ms.
    • Reading Recovery teachers are trained to give the Observation Survey during a week-long Observation Survey Institute that precedes their official training year.

  • Roaming Around the Known

    • Jones will only work with what Eric knows as evidenced by the Observation Survey.
    • Jones can discover things that Eric knows that he did not have the opportunity to express during the Observation Survey.

  • What are Observational Studies?

    • Observational studies can never identify causal relationships because even though two variables are related both might be caused by a third, unseen, variable.
    • Nature Observation and Study Hall in The Natural and Cultural Gardens, The Expo Memorial Park, Suita city, Osaka, Japan.
    • Observational studies are a type of experiments in which the variables are outside the control of the investigator.

  • Fieldwork and Observation

  • Bandura and Observational Learning

    • Observational learning occurs from watching, retaining, and replicating a behavior observed from a model.
    • Observational learning, also referred to as modeling or social learning, occurs by observing, retaining, and replicating behavior seen in others.
    • Observational learning can teach completely new behaviors or can affect the frequency of previously learned behaviors.

  • Epilogue

    • Jones assessed his learning again by giving him the Observation Survey.
    • On text level reading, he is now reading at level 12 both on the Observation Survey and within the realm of his classroom.
    • Jones will monitor his progress in the classroom and will give the Observation Survey to him again at the end of the year.

  • Observational studies

    • Observational studies come in two forms: prospective and retrospective studies.