Answer to Question #214729 in Statistics and Probability for Ali

Question

To appreciate the different merits of observation in the field and observation in a controlled environment, read the scenarios below and answer the questions that follow.

Scenario 2. A usability consultant observes how participants perform a pre-planned task using the wearable navigation device in a usability laboratory. The task requires the participants to find the telephone number of a restaurant called Matisse. It takes them several minutes to do this and they appear to have problems. The video recording and interaction log suggest that the interface is very fiddly and the audio interaction is of poor quality, and this is supported by participants’ answers on a user satisfaction questionnaire.

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of observation?

2. When might each type of observation be useful

Answer 1

a) Advantages

The two observations helps the researcher to gain empathy through personal experience

The methods are more flexible and allows for open mind.

Disadvantages

The two observations risk of getting involved in biasness therefore giving a bias information

The two observations are time consuming

Video and audio recording are very expressive.

b) uses of each observations

In many studies audio are recorded to capture a process interaction or a scenario.

Video recording bring in a visual aspect in research