ABSTRACT
Observation and participant observation, which involve observing people and situations in situ, are data collection methods with considerable benefits for health research. Participant observation data can also be collected by research participants and so provide an opportunity for their experiences to be analysed. For example, Chang et al. used participant observation data and reflective notes to supplement data from 15 interviewees in a study of the empowerment process for cancer patients. Participant observation data was collected by the interviewees and represented the experiences of the research participants. Observation schedules are most useful for recording numerical data such as the number of people in a scene or the number of times a person performs a certain action or behaviour. Observation and participant observation data lend themselves to a number of different uses. Observation and participant observation data can give other data background and context or simply be used to offer an alternative perspective that makes the research more interesting and rich.
