Topic 6

Conducting Surveys, Experiments or
Observations
1. Survey
In doing a survey, the researcher must understand the right mode of inquiry for
establishing an inference whether in a large group of people or from a small number of people in
a group. The very aim of conducting a survey is to present and explain the actual experiences of
a certain population. Conducting survey are done in three (3) steps: 1) by email; 2) telephone; 3)
personal interview. The method of data collection can be from observation to content analysis
and this can be used in the survey.
The challenges and limitations of survey are seen according to the following criteria: 1)
appropriateness of the method; 2) accuracy of what to observe; 3) generalizability of the
findings; 4) administrative constrains; 5) ethical and political difficulties.
Survey research means collecting information about a group of people by asking them
questions and analyzing the results. To conduct an effective survey, follow these six steps:
1. Determine who will participate in the survey

2. Decide the type of survey (mail, online, or in-person)
3. Design the survey questions and layout
4. Distribute the survey
5. Analyze the responses
6. Write up the results
Surveys are a flexible method of data collection that can be used in many different types of
research.
An example of a survey is the open-ended questions. This is placed in a box form and will
permit your respondents to provide a unique answer. This kind of approach is able to provide
the respondents the freedom to say what they feel about a topic, which provides you with an
exploratory data that may unleash important issues, opportunities, issues, or quotes.
2. Experimental Research
Experimental research is a study that strictly adheres to a scientific research design. It
includes a hypothesis, a variable that can be manipulated by the researcher, and variables that
can be measured, calculated and compared. Most importantly, experimental research is
completed in a controlled environment. The researcher collects data and results will either
support or reject the hypothesis. This method of research is referred to a hypothesis testing or a
deductive research method.
Experimental research seeks to determine a relationship between two (2) variables—the
dependent variable and the independent variable. After completing an experimental research
study, a correlation between a specific aspect of an entity and the variable being studied is
either supported or rejected.
Data in experimental research must be able to be quantified, or measured. Data collected
could be acidity/alkalinity, area, circumference, density, electrical current/potential/resistance,
force, growth (time, weight, volume, length/width), heat, humidity, light intensity, mass,
pressure, sound intensity, temperature, time, velocity, volume or weight. However, the entity
should be carefully observed qualitatively, or described using words and photographs. How does
the entity look, smell, sound, feel, and taste (when appropriate)? These types of observations
help supplement the measurements taken throughout the experiment.
Forensic Studies—Studying splatter (a physics/math study), decomposition (an
entomology study), damage to objects (a physics/engineering study), can be done in a controlled
environment and be measured.
“The Effect of _____ on_____” Studies—All experimental studies look to determine how one
thing affects another.
Product Effectiveness—If a specific aspect (active ingredients, size of crucial components
etc…) of several products can be determined to be in different quality or quantity, this makes
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for a great experimental project. (For example the different levels of Ethyl Alcohol within
antibacterial hand sanitizers.)
Microbiology—bacteria (and some protists) grow quickly, change in population is easily
measured and therefore make for a good experimental study.
Experiments are performed all around us everyday. Whether they're done to find out if a
cancer curing medication works or to find out how fast water evaporates at certain
temperatures, experiments are constantly performed. However, what separates a simple
experiment from a professionally done experiment is the use of the Scientific Method.
The Scientific Method is a series of organized steps to which an experiment is done. The
Scientific Method helps you plan, predict, research, conclude and maybe even publish your
findings. The Scientific Method will make your experiment more organized, easy to interpret and
learn from.
The steps to the Scientific Method are:
1) Pose a Testable Question.
2) Conduct Background Research.
3) State your Hypothesis.
4) Design Experiment.
5) Perform your Experiment.
6) Collect Data.
7) Draw Conclusions.
8) Publish Findings (optional).
3. Observation
May take place in natural settings and involve the researcher taking lengthy and
descriptive notes of what is happening. It is argued that there are limits to the situations that
can be observed in their 'natural' settings and that the presence of the researcher may lead to
problems with validity.
Limitations with observation include:
a. Change in people's behavior when they know they are being observed
b. A 'snap shot' view of a whole situation
c. Think Big Brother...
d. The researcher may miss something while they are watching and taking notes
e. The researcher may make judgments, make value statements or misunderstand what
has been observed
Strengths of observation
a. Can offer a flavor for what is happening
b. Can give an insight into the bigger picture
c. Can demonstrate sub-groups
d. Can be used to assist in the design of the rest of the research
e. Sometimes, the researcher becomes or needs to become a participant observer, where
he/she is taking part in the situation in order to be accepted and further understand the
workings of the social phenomenon
Observation can sometimes obtain more reliable information about certain things—for
example, how people actually behave. It can also serve as a technique for verifying or nullifying
information provided in face to face encounters. People or environment can be observed. When
environment is researched, it can provide valuable background information that may inform
other aspects of the research.
Techniques for collecting data through observation:
Written descriptions - The researcher makes written descriptions of the people, situations
or environment -
Limitations include
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 Researcher might miss out on an observation as they are taking notes
 The researcher may be focused on a particular event or situation o There is room
for subjective interpretation of what is happening

Video recording
- Allows the researcher to also record notes
- Limitations may include
 People acting unnaturally towards the camera or others avoiding the camera
 The camera may not always see everything
Photographs and artifacts

- Useful when there is a need to collect observable information or phenomena such as
buildings, neighborhoods, dress and appearance
- Artifacts include objects of significance—memorabilia, instruments, tools and others.
Documentation
Any and all kinds of documentation may be used to provide information—a local paper,
information on a notice board, administrative policies and procedures.
How to Conduct Observations for Research
1. Identify Objective
Determine what you want to observe and why. Are looking to see how students respond
to a new environment? How customers interact with employees? How bosses interact with
subordinates? When conducting observations, you are trying to learn habits, patterns,
behaviors, reactions, and general information about people in a particular environment to better
understand what they do and, hopefully eventually, why they do it (though observations alone
often won’t tell you the “why”).
2. Establish Recording Method
To make observations most effective, it’s important that you minimize or eliminate any
disruptive or unfamiliar devices into the environment you wish to observe. For example, it is
often least effective to videorecord observations in situations where the people being observed
know they are being filmed (but it’s usually unethical to film without telling them. Note-taking
is the most common method, though in some public spaces you can take photographs, audio
recordings, and other methods.
3. Develop Questions and Techniques
Determine whether you are conducting an informal or a formal observation (see
explanations to the far right.) Knowing your objective, determine if there are specific questions
you have or if you are going in completely open-minded. What you hope to learn will help you
know what specifically to look for. Be prepared when entering an observation space by having a
sound understanding of the type of information you are trying learn.
4. Observe and Take Notes

Visit the place you are hoping to get information from. Be as unobtrusive as possible,
taking notes, photographs, audio, and film, only where it is allowed, you have permission, and
it makes sense for the research without disrupting the environment. If you are doing formal
observations, will you need to code certain behaviors, actions, words, visuals, and other
observed data.
5. Analyze Behaviors and Inferences

Separate the difference between what you observed (which are factual behaviors) and
why what you observed happened. Typically, to make some sense of your observed data, you
will need to interview people in the environment you are observing, either during the
observation itself, or afterwards. Make connections between interactions, responses, behaviors,
and other phenomena.

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Conducting Surveys, Experiments or

1. Determine who will participate in the survey

Photographs and artifacts

4. Observe and Take Notes

5. Analyze Behaviors and Inferences

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