Observing
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Observing is the process of interacting with the environment through one or more of the senses:

 
  seeing
   glasses1.gif (1063 bytes)		   hearing
   sound.gif (1201 bytes)		   touching
   touch.gif (261 bytes)		   tasting
    cake0a.gif (380 bytes)		   smelling
  Skunk.gif (7752 bytes)

 

The senses are used to determine the characteristics of a phenomena.
 

The observer's system of beliefs or "paradigm" guide observation and inquiry.

Influencing observations are the researcher's:               

Valuesscales.gif (1601 bytes)               Experiences juggler0a.gif (260 bytes)                        Associations handshake.gif (1049 bytes)

 

 

Paradigm = A distillation of what we think about the world (but can not prove). A paradigm is a
world view, a way of breaking down the complexity of the real world. Paradigms are deeply
imbedded in socialization, and they tell us what is important, legitimate, and reasonable.