This brief is about observation as a data collection method for evaluation. It includes a basic overview of observation; when to use it; how to plan and conduct it; and its advantages and disadvantages.
What is observation?
Observation is way of gathering data by watching behavior, events, or noting physical characteristics
in their natural setting. Observations can be overt (everyone knows they are being observed) or covert (no one knows they are being observed and the observer
is concealed). The benefit of covert observation is that people are more likely to behave naturally if they do
not know they are being observed. However, you will typically need to conduct overt observations because of ethical problems related to concealing your observation.
“We acknowledge that we are on and support Mentoring for Youth in the traditional territories across Alberta of the many First Nations from Treaty 6,7,& 8, the Métis of the 8 Alberta Settlements, and Inuit people whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.”
