charting

Professor Richard Burton

12/24/15

Participant observation has been used as a qualitative method to collect information in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to observe and collect data as a way of keeping score. Observation involves receiving knowledge of the outside world through our senses, or recording information using scientific tools and instruments (Freeman & Hall, 2012). Any data recorded during an experiment can be called an observation. Random variation consists of the sum of many small changes arising from real but small causes that is inherent in and part of a process which cannot be tracked back to a root cause. Variation represents the different results one gets after measuring something over again and cannot predict the outcome of any future observation. The data below was collected at a drive through window showing how long it takes to serve a customer.

The significant change in values was caused by delays in serving the customers (Freeman & Hall, 2012).Participant observation involves the involvement of the researcher in a variety of activities over an extended period of time that enable one to observe the daily lives of those from whom the data is being collected. Therefore it was the most preferred method.

References

Freeman, M., & Hall, J. N. (2012). The Complexity of Practice Participant Observation and Values Engagement in a Responsive Evaluation of a Professional Development School Partnership. American Journal of Evaluation, 33(4), 483-495.