~Observation~
Definition:
Observation is the act of using the human senses with our without the use of tools to help perceive information about the surroundings or subjects.
Observation is Key!
The first step in almost any analytical process involves observation. Whether accidental or critical observation, humans are constantly observing the world around them.
Common examples of observation in different fields:
Passive observation (day to day observations): In our daily lives we are constantly observing using our senses. Seeing different colors and shapes, smelling different odors, feeling different textures, and even observing a change in speed or temperature are all methods of observing the space around us. These observations can be done without much thought, or they can be helpful in the critical thinking process by being used to gather information for critical analysis.
Psychologic observation: Observations in the field of psychology usually center around case studies with behavioral observation being the key focus. Psychological observation can include intervening with the subjects, conducting experiments, or simply observing natural behavior. This field is focused on using vocal and visual methods of observation of behavior to collect data. Video and sound recording devices are common tools to aid in observation and analysis of those observations.
Meteorologic observation: Another common field is constantly using tools to observe weather aspects such as; temperature, pressure, precipitation, humidity, and wind. This is an example of a field that relies heavily on tools of observation to collect information to use in heavy analysis.
Medical observation: The medical field also relies heavily on observation for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic tools to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature are very helpful in the observation of the patient. These observations are used to collect a range of data about the patients condition to utilize to obtain results.
Psychologic observation: Observations in the field of psychology usually center around case studies with behavioral observation being the key focus. Psychological observation can include intervening with the subjects, conducting experiments, or simply observing natural behavior. This field is focused on using vocal and visual methods of observation of behavior to collect data. Video and sound recording devices are common tools to aid in observation and analysis of those observations.
Meteorologic observation: Another common field is constantly using tools to observe weather aspects such as; temperature, pressure, precipitation, humidity, and wind. This is an example of a field that relies heavily on tools of observation to collect information to use in heavy analysis.
Medical observation: The medical field also relies heavily on observation for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic tools to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature are very helpful in the observation of the patient. These observations are used to collect a range of data about the patients condition to utilize to obtain results.
Cool links to learn more about Observation:
BrainPickings discusses the book The Art of Observation and the different types and constant need of Observation! This site goes into very interesting historical perspectives of observation with many interesting pictures and quotes from the book to really help understand scientific observation in a very interesting way.
UnderstandingScience is a great resource to learn more about observation without using the human senses but with scientific methods and tools. This article explains the method of how scientists use instruments to observe then collect data which can lead to scientific hypotheses, theories and even great discoveries!