Observations about me observing :)

This was a really interesting experience, because I learned how I am a shy researcher! When I was observing strangers, I was sitting at quite the distance from them, and ultimately as a result I took in more of the surroundings and their general movements and appearance from a distance. However, when I was observing my husband, I was only a couple of feet from him. As a result I could look at all of his features and facial expressions. But of course, part of this is because I feel comfortable being physically closer to someone who I know.

I also realized as I quite naturally wrote my posts (without editing), that my observations of my husband came to me much quicker. Likely because I know him, what he wears, his movements, his expressions. There is a possibility I wouldn't notice what shirt a stranger is wearing, whereas I knew exactly the band that was on my husband's t-shirt.

Overall, I learned that if I want to observe more effectively, I would need to be comfortable in the situation. One way of achieving this is to invite participants to be researched versus observing from a distance. But the need for closer research of course depends on what is being researched. If the research study is something along the lines of the piano stairs, then perhaps distant observation is appropriate.