Barker K N
Am J Hosp Pharm. 1980 Sep;37(9):1235-43.
Use of observation as a measurement procedure, assigning numerals to human behavioral acts, is discussed. Observation has important advantages which makes it best suited for certain kinds of studies, and some limitations which preclude its use in others. The central problems in the use of observation are: (1) the effect of the observer on the observed, which is usually not severe and can be minimized; (2) observer inference, which is a crucial strength and a crucial weakness; and (3) the unit of behavior to be used, which involves the molar-molecular problem. The considerations in planning both unstructured and structured observation studies are discussed, including what to observe, how to record it, how to maximize validity and reliability, and how to handle the relationship between the observer and the observed. Behavior is usually sampled using event sampling or time sampling. The uses and weaknesses of rating scales to assess perceived behavior are summarized.
本文讨论了将观察作为一种测量程序，为人类行为赋予数字的方法。观察具有重要优势，使其最适合某些类型的研究，但也存在一些局限性，使其无法用于其他研究。使用观察法的核心问题包括：（1）观察者对被观察者的影响，这种影响通常并不严重，可以降至最低；（2）观察者推断，这既是关键优势也是关键劣势；（3）要使用的行为单位，这涉及宏观与微观问题。文中讨论了规划非结构化和结构化观察研究时的注意事项，包括观察什么、如何记录、如何最大化有效性和可靠性，以及如何处理观察者与被观察者之间的关系。行为通常采用事件抽样或时间抽样进行取样。总结了评定量表在评估感知行为方面的用途和不足。
