INDIRECT OBSERVATION: CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES - SCIENCE - 2025

The indirect observation is an instrument to collect qualitative data. This means that the data obtained are characteristics and properties of the observed phenomenon.

When indirect observation is used, the researcher must resort to statements and records collected by other scholars in the area. This is why it is called indirect, since the researcher does not study the phenomenon by herself but is satisfied with the impressions derived from secondary sources. That is, books, photos, videos, audio recordings, interviews, articles, degree projects, among others.

Indirect observation does not invade the privacy of the object, so its use is favored when the phenomenon is shy, susceptible, hostile or dangerous.

With current technological advances, indirect observation has benefited. An example of this is the existence of thermal cameras, which have made it possible to record the nightlife of wild animals.

Before the creation of these cameras, it was impossible to directly observe this phenomenon without upsetting the natural behavior of the object of study.

Despite the advantages provided by this data collection instrument, many researchers prefer the use of direct observation (if conditions permit), since it can offer more information than indirect observation.

Indirect observation characteristics

1- Indirect observation is based on data collected by other researchers and recorded in books, documents, recordings, videos, newspaper articles, among others.

Interviews can also be conducted to collect other people's impressions. In this sense, indirect observation is highly dependent on secondary sources.

2- Because the object is not studied directly, it is a non-invasive method. For this reason, the behavior of the phenomenon will not be affected by the presence of an observer.

3- The data produced by indirect observation are qualitative. What is sought are the properties that can be perceived by the researcher through her senses.

4- It is used in descriptive research, which is one that is responsible for studying the characteristics of a particular phenomenon.

Advantages of indirect observation

1- One of the main advantages of indirect observation is that the researcher can analyze the data of other observers in light of the contemporary situation.

For example, historical events can be compared with current events, allowing new conclusions to be drawn.

2- You can analyze facts that are physically or temporarily far from the investigator. For example, you can indirectly observe the behavior of a hurricane that is thousands of kilometers away, just as you can study a hurricane that occurred more than a year ago.

3- It is easy to make inferences based on other people's studies. It should be noted that the validity of these assumptions will depend both on the veracity of the data from the first observer, and on the analytical capacity of the second researcher.

4- It may also be that the researcher and the observer have different points of view, which could be helpful.

In this sense, the researcher can interpret the observer's information from another perspective, shedding light on data that previous observers may have ignored.

5- On the other hand, anyone who wishes can be an indirect observer from the comfort of their home. This is thanks to the internet and the mass media that have allowed the sharing of large amounts of information.

6- The fact that the researcher does not need to travel to study the phenomenon is favorable.

Not only does it considerably reduce the cost of the investigation, it also protects the physical integrity of the investigator.

Disadvantages of indirect observation

1- One of the disadvantages of indirect observation is that it can happen that the information about the phenomenon to be studied is scarce. This would represent a limiting factor for the researcher.

2- When a phenomenon is observed indirectly, one is very dependent on the work of other researchers.

Let's take as an example that the first observer ignored certain relevant data. In this case, it is very possible that the work of the indirect researcher is brief or of low quality.

Now suppose that observer # 1 made mistakes in recording the information. In this case, the indirect observer investigation is prone to failure if the primary data is not carefully analyzed and source errors are not detected.

For this reason, researchers prefer the use of direct observation, as they rely more on data collected by themselves than on data provided by others.

3- When interviews are carried out to obtain data indirectly, you are at the mercy of the memory of the interviewees, who could omit information of importance to the researcher or lie.

4- If sources are not handled properly, plagiarism (theft of intellectual property) could be incurred. This would lead to legal problems for the investigator.

When is indirect observation used?

There are a number of reasons why a researcher prefers indirect observation over other research methods. These include the following:

1- The object studied is very susceptible and could interpret direct observation as an invasion of privacy.

2- The observed object is dangerous or could be harmful to the observer's health. It is preferable to keep your distance.

3- The object is hostile and does not wish to cooperate, so secondary sources (family, friends, among others) are used in order to obtain information about it.

4- The object studied is no longer available to the researcher. For example, the phenomenon may have occurred in the past but is no longer repeated in the present, and all that remains of it are the records.

5- The observer does not have the necessary funds to study the object directly. So you have to resort to secondary sources to obtain the data necessary for the investigation.

References

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5. Indirect observation. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from definitionword.com
6. Qualitative Methods. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from socialresearchmethods.net
7. Observational methods in psychological research. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from wikipedia.org.