Observed

Observed is a term used in various fields such as science, psychology, sociology, and statistics to denote the act of monitoring, watching, or noting something for the purpose of gaining information. The concept of observation is fundamental to the process of empirical research, where data is collected through direct or indirect observation of phenomena.

Definition

In its simplest form, to observe means to notice or perceive something and register it as being significant. This can be done through the use of the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. In a more scientific context, observation involves the recording of data using scientific tools and instruments.

Observation in Science

In science, observation is a key part of the scientific method, which involves observing phenomena, formulating a hypothesis, conducting experiments to test the hypothesis, and then refining or discarding the hypothesis based on the results. Observations in science can be either qualitative (descriptive) or quantitative (numerical).

Observation in Psychology

In psychology, observation is used as a research method in which a researcher watches and records the behavior of an individual or group of individuals. This can be done in a natural setting (naturalistic observation) or in a controlled setting (laboratory observation). The data collected can be used to understand and predict human behavior.

Observation in Sociology

In sociology, observation is used as a method of data collection in which the researcher immerses themselves in a social setting and observes the behavior and interactions of the people within that setting. This method is often used in ethnography, a type of sociological research that aims to describe the customs of individual people and cultures.

Observation in Statistics

In statistics, an observation refers to the measured value of a variable for a single member of a population or sample. For example, in a study of the heights of individuals in a population, each individual's height would be an observation.

See Also

• Empirical research
• Scientific method
• Hypothesis
• Qualitative research
• Quantitative research
• Naturalistic observation
• Laboratory observation
• Ethnography
• Variable (statistics)

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