Bus642 Week 4

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1. Advantages/disadvantages of survey and observations can be seen in data collection. In a survey specific question direct the data collection efforts. In observation studies the data collation is not guided. Observation can be very useful in the right situations though. Oppose to surveys, observationalmethodscantakeadvantageofsensorymeans(sight,hearing,smell,and touch)duringcollectionofdata.Insurveysrespondentscanbewidelydispersed,andusually moreinclinedtoparticipationbecausetheyremainintheirowncomfortsettings.Inobservations dataismorenarrowlybased,andrespondentsmaybefastertooptoutduetolesscontroloftheir settings.Thereisalsotimingtoconsiderinobservations,andvariationintimerestraints (whetherinformationisneededhastilyornot,andtimeofobservations)isofconcerntoo. Iwouldthinkthatanobservationstudycouldbeusedinabusinessenvironmenttogauge teamwork.Byfirstobservinghowemployeesworktogetherwithoutcontrolorinducement. Thenonceenoughdataiscollectputallemployeesthroughanextensiveteamwork/teambuilding course.Afterwardsperformthesameobservationtorevealchangesinteamworkbehavior.

2. What ethical risks are involved in observation? In the use of unobtrusive measures? Anyobservationsthatinvolveindividualswhoareunawarepresentethicalconcerns. Individualsinobservationstudiesthatuseunobtrusivemeasurescanbesneaky.Meaningthe studycanbeconcealedfromthoseinvolvedwithouttheirapproval.Forexample,studiesthat makeuseofonewaymirrors,hiddencameras,hiddenmicrophones,etc.

3. Based on present or past work experience, suggest problems that could be resolved by using observation-based data. Atmylastjobobservationstudycouldhavebeenused.Therewasavendingareainour breakroom,butnorefrigeratorforstoringlunchesbroughtfromhome.Firstanobservation wouldneedtorecordthosewhousethebreakroomandboughtfromthevendingmachines. Thenonceenoughdatawascollectthebreakareacouldhavebeenupgradedtoincludea