Use the project proposal that you did for me but instead of a tackle football idea
do 7 on 7. Look up what 7 on 7 football is.
Part 2: Observation and Fieldnotes
Once you have selected your research study site and received approval from Amy,
make a plan to attend the event/match/practice as an observer.
● You must make observations for a minimum of two hours total- consider if one
event will last a sufficient amount of time or if you need to observe two events
(e.g. a shorter youth sports game may require two separate observations).
● Be prepared to take brief notes/reminders/jottings by hand or on your phone
during your observation.
● Immediately after your observation, write fieldnotes.
● Length of field notes will vary but aim for 2,000 words.
Fieldnotes
Links to an external site.
are written or recorded observations collected by writers, researchers, or anyone else
doing fieldwork like anthropologists, ecologists, geologists, ethnographers, and
journalists. Think of them as data — qualitative data. Field notes can be written
descriptions, sketches, photographs, audio recordings, or anything else that helps us
document and preserve information. They are basically the raw data and information we
collect to help us analyze, interpret, and write.
All field notes generally consist of two parts:
1. Descriptive information, in which you attempt to accurately document
factual data [e.g., date and time] along with the settings, actions, behaviors,
and conversations that you observe; and,
2. Reflective information, in which you record your thoughts, ideas, questions,
and concerns during the observation.
Note that field notes should be fleshed out as soon as possible after an observation is
completed. Your initial notes may be recorded in cryptic form with reminders on paper or
on the Notes app on your phone and, unless additional detail is added as soon as
possible after the observation, important facts and opportunities for fully interpreting the
data may be lost.
Characteristics of Field Notes
● Be accurate. You only get one chance to observe a particular moment in time
so, before you conduct your observations, practice taking notes in a setting
that is similar to your observation site in regards to number of people, the
environment, and social dynamics. This will help you develop your own style
of transcribing observations quickly and accurately.
● Be organized. Taking accurate notes while you are actively observing can be
difficult. Therefore, it is important that you plan ahead how you will document
your observation study [e.g., strictly chronologically or according to specific
prompts]. Notes that are disorganized will make it more difficult for you to
interpret the data.
● Be descriptive. Use descriptive words to document what you observe. For
example, instead of noting that a classroom appears “comfortable,” state that
the classroom includes soft lighting and cushioned chairs that can be moved
around by the students. Being descriptive means supplying yourself with
enough factual evidence that you don’t end up making assumptions about
what you meant when you write the final report.
● Focus on the research problem. Since it’s impossible to document
everything you observe, focus on collecting the greatest detail that relates to
the research problem and the theoretical constructs underpinning your
research; avoid cluttering your notes with irrelevant information. For example,
if the purpose of your study is to observe the discursive interactions between
nursing home staff and the family members of residents, then it would only be
necessary to document the setting in detail if it in some way directly
influenced those interactions [e.g., there is a private room available for
discussions between staff and family members].
● Record insights and thoughts. As you take notes, be thinking about the
underlying meaning of what you observe and record your thoughts and ideas
accordingly. If needed, this will help you to ask questions or seek clarification
from participants after the observation. To avoid any confusion, subsequent
comments from participants should be included in a separate, reflective part
of your field notes and not merged with the descriptive notes.
General Guidelines for the Descriptive Content: The descriptive content of your
notes can vary in detail depending upon what needs to be emphasized in order to
address the research problem. However, in most observations, your notes should
include at least some of the following elements:
● Describe the physical setting.
● Describe the social environment and the way in which participants interacted
within the setting. This may include patterns of interactions, frequency of
interactions, direction of communication patterns [including non-verbal
communication], and patterns of specific behavioral events, such as, conflicts,
decision-making, or collaboration.
● Describe the participants and their roles in the setting.
● Describe, as best you can, the meaning of what was observed from the
perspectives of the participants.
● Record exact quotes or close approximations of comments that relate directly
to the purpose of the study.
● Describe any impact you might have had on the situation you observed
[important!].
General Guidelines for the Reflective Content: You are the instrument of data
gathering and interpretation. Therefore, reflective content can include any of the
following elements intended to contextualize what you have observed based on your
perspective and your own personal, cultural, and situational experiences.
● Note ideas, impressions, thoughts, and/or any criticisms you have about what
you observed.
● Include any unanswered questions or concerns that have arisen from
analyzing the observation data.
● Clarify points and/or correct mistakes and misunderstandings in other parts of
field notes.
● Include insights about what you have observed and speculate as to why you
believe specific phenomenon occurred.
