View/Open - ARAN - National University of Ireland, Galway

114
Chapter 3 Research Framework
positioning, single positioning or mobile positioning. Casey (2006) reflected upon
other researchers’ approaches to observation and stated that single positioning
requires the researcher to occupy just one location and observe in the location alone,
multiple positioning requires the researcher to move around and observe from
different locations, and mobile positioning involves following a person in the
research site. A decision also needs to be made in relation to recording of
observations – will a voice recorder be used, or will just field notes be used, or will a
combination of these be used?
Polit, Beck and Hungler (2001) stated that observations as a method of data
collection enable flexibility for the researcher who may choose the focus of the
observation, the level of concealment, the duration of the observation and the method
of recording the observation. Polit, Beck and Hungler (2001) also advised that this
data collection method requires great skill in order for the researcher to see the world
as the study participants see it and thus extract meaning.
In summary, observations may be participant or non-participant, they may be molar
(unstructured) or molecular (structured), and may use multiple, single or mobile
positioning.
3.8.3 Field notes
According to Morse and Field (1996), field notes consist of jottings of salient points
that are reworked in detail later on. They take the form of reconstructions of
interactions, short conversational excerpts or descriptions of events. They are written
accounts of the things that the researcher hears, sees, experiences and thinks in the
course of collecting or reflecting on data. It is important to quote what people say
rather than summarise what people say.
Stake (1995) highlighted the importance of the description of contexts. Schatzman
and Strauss (1973) suggested that keeping journals or logs helps to track
methodological, observational and theoretical field notes during data collection.
They record feelings and intuitive hunches, pose questions, and document work in
progress. Patton (2002) supported this and stated that field notes contain the ongoing
data that are being collected and consist of descriptions of what is being experienced