Observational Checklists in Qualitative Ethnology Study

This week you will create an observational checklist, containing at least 10 items, to examine
people within a social setting while completing a qualitative ethnology study. Using this
observational checklist, complete an observational data collection by visiting a community
venue, such as a shopping mall, a library, or college campus social area, in which people are
readily seen in natural surroundings. Conduct a brief observational research study using your
checklist. Consider how this experience differs from analyzing numbers when conducting
quantitative research.

Observational Checklists in Qualitative Ethnology Study

The checklist

1. The level of friendliness and social interactions between the students
2. Expression of anger using facial expressions, sulking, crying, and complaining
3. Verbal or physical retaliation against offensive behavior and language
4. Attempts to evade or escape from the offended
5. The capacity of displaying humor
6. The level of positive mood
7. The capacity to empathize
8. The level of nonverbal interaction (Staples, 2013).
9. Level of rejection and neglect between students
10. Overt hostility and chronic aggression against the peers
    It was very thrilling to conduct the brief observation. On the same note, I consider this
    kind of data collection to be very effective based on the fact that the participants are studied
    within the natural settings without their knowledge. Therefore, it is possible to gather original
    data regarding all their behavior (Staples, 2013). After the observation, it was easy to conclude

OBSERVATIONAL CHECKLISTS IN QUALITATIVE ETHNOLOGY STUDY 2
that the student had many positive social interaction traits. There was a high level of positive
mood, capacity to empathize, humor, nonverbal communication, and accepting others. If there
were cases of offensive behavior and language, hostility or aggression, this was reported to the
authority, which was very essential in promoting positive interactions.
When analyzing data using biostatistics, the measurement process is central since it offers
the fundamental link between the mathematical expression and empirical observation. In this
regard, narrow questions and gather numerical data (percentages and statistics) from participants.
There is hope that the results are unbiased so as to allow generalization to larger populations.
Using qualitative ethnology study is inexpensive, simple, there is acquisition of first-hand
information, and it is possible to deeply understand processes that surveys may not be able to.
However, there are ethical challenges, potent observer effects, and relying on subjective
measurement (Staples, 2013). With quantitative studies and biostatistics, a sample that is
representative can be selected, the findings can be generalized, structural factors can be analyzed,
the studies can be replicated using standardized approaches, and the extraneous variables’ effects
can be controlled. However, it is impossible to gather data on sensitive topics, self-reported
information from questionnaires may be inadequate, expensive, time-consuming, and
inflexibility of the research methods. The qualitative ethnology methodology is more
comfortable to work with based on its benefits and advantages.

OBSERVATIONAL CHECKLISTS IN QUALITATIVE ETHNOLOGY STUDY 3

Reference

Staples, J. (2013). The Interview: An Ethnographic Approach. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.