ABSTRACT
In this chapter I will discuss some of the ways in which to collect observational data indirectly. These techniques are in contrast to the direct observational techniques that have dominated most of this book. Rather than relying on “live” observational techniques in the field, in this chapter I will explore some ways in which you can collect information without actually being in the field. These indirect techniques are particularly useful in collecting information about individuals in nonpublic settings, such as in the home: Places where issues of logistics/economics (e.g. traveling to individual homes spread across a diverse area) or privacy-related concerns (e.g. the impracticality of being in homes during the early morning) prevent you from actually being present to conduct direct observations. Instead, these procedures rely on participants' immediate or recollected observations of behaviors of interest. Some of the techniques to be discussed in this chapter include: rating scales, remote or spot sampling, diaries, and remote tape recorders left at data collection sites. As I will discuss, these indirect methods can be used either by themselves or in concert with direct observational methods. First, I discuss some general reasons for choosing an indirect strategy over a more direct one.
