Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Qualitative Research

Introduction:
Observation is used as a research method in two types – structured and unstructured. The selection of these types depends on the research question and the paradigm underlying each study. The degree of participation of a nurse researcher varies according to the nature of the setting and the research question. The researcher behaves as the research instrument.
Objectives:
To reflect on the experience in the application of observation as a technique in nursing qualitative research.
Method:
Report the experience of using 14 observations of interactions between nurse-child-parents in a nursing consultation in a Health Center.
Results:
This data collection method made it possible to identify advantages and limitations in the nurse-child-parent interaction processes, in a health center context.
An advantage of observation is that it can help to overcome the divergence between what participants say and what they really do. The data derived through observation captured the emotional dimension that had been cultivated within the natural environment The observation is frequently used with the interview in qualitative research.
Observation can be flexible and less intrusive if the researcher gives time to develop a relationship between participants and the researcher. The researcher should decide to spend significant time in the natural context, through sustained presence, building trust, and becoming integrated into the setting before the research begins.
Observation helps to advance the researcher’s understanding of relevant phenomena and relationships that are revealed over time. It is impossible for the researcher to specify precisely what will be observed and the degree to which they will participate in the setting of nursing qualitative research due to their subjective nature.
Conclusion:
In nursing qualitative research, interpretive/naturalistic paradigm use observation techniques, which can be used to examine some complex phenomena. More research is needed to value the observation in nursing qualitative research.