What are observations?
Observation is a data collection method used to gather detailed information about a situation or event. Observation data is used to describe the setting, activities, participants, and the meaning of the observations from the observer’s perspective (Patton, 2002). Observation data should be factual, accurate, and detailed, but not so detailed as to include irrelevant or trivial information that makes the description difficult to understand. The best observational data allows the reader to fully understand the situation described (Patton, 2002). Observational methods are ideal for gathering data related to user-centered issues, such as the usability of your digital library. Observational methods are also ideal for providing information about the impact and uses of your digital library in real-life settings. This chapter focuses on the latter goal of observations.
