Using observation to collect data in emergency research

Margaret Fry; Kate Curtis; Julie Considine; Ramon Z Shaban

doi:10.1016/j.aenj.2017.01.001

Using observation to collect data in emergency research

Australas Emerg Nurs J. 2017 Feb;20(1):25-30. doi: 10.1016/j.aenj.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Feb 4.

Authors

Margaret Fry¹, Kate Curtis², Julie Considine³, Ramon Z Shaban⁴

Affiliations

¹ Northern Sydney Local Health District, Building 51, Royal North Shore Hospital Campus, Reserve Road, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Health, 235 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney, 88 Mallet St., Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia; Trauma Service, St George Hospital, Gray St, Kogarah, NSW, 2217, Australia, Australia; St. George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Level 2, Clinical Sciences (Pitney) Building, St. George Hospital, Gray St., Kogarah, NSW, 2217, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia; Eastern Health, Deakin University Nursing & Midwifery Research Centre, Level 2, 5 Arnold St., Box Hill, Victoria, 3128, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University. Nathan Campus, N48 Health Sciences Building, 170 Kessels Rd., Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia; Department of Infection Control, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, 1 Hospital Blvd., Southport, Queensland, 4215, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 28169134
DOI: 10.1016/j.aenj.2017.01.001

Abstract

Research questions require specific data collection techniques to appropriately explore and understand the phenomena of interest. Observation as a term features commonly in the literature as a way to describe both the design of a study and methods deployed within procedures. Observation as a data collection method is a mode of inquiry to systematically collect information about different settings and groups. However, the objective of observation in data collection is to better understand the phenomena of interest situated in context. Specifically, observation data collection can improve understanding of practice, processes, knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes embedded in clinical work and social interactions. This pragmatic paper will assist emergency nurses and other clinicians to understand how observation can be used as a data collection method within clinical practice.

Keywords: Ethnography; Observational study; Qualitative research; Research methods; Research techniques.

MeSH terms

Data Collection / ethics
Data Collection / methods*
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Emergency Medical Services / methods
Emergency Medicine / methods*
Humans
Observational Studies as Topic / ethics
Observational Studies as Topic / methods*
Qualitative Research