Summary description Observational methods involve an investigator viewing users as they work and taking notes on the activity which takes place. Observation may be either direct, where the investigator is actually present during the task, or indirect, where the task is viewed by some other means such as through use of a video camera. Typical Application Areas Useful early in specification for obtaining qualitative data. It is useful for studying currently executed tasks and processes. It has been extensively advocated in the past.
Benefits Allows the observer to view what users actually do in context.
Direct observation allows the investigator to focus attention on specific areas of interest. Indirect observation captures activity that would otherwise have gone unrecorded or unnoticed. Limitations Observing can be obtrusive and subjects may alter their behaviour due to the presence of an observer. Co-operation of users is vital and so the interpersonal skills of the observer are important. Notes and video tape need to be analysed by the note-taker which can be time consuming and prevents the task being split up for analysis by a number of people.