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