The observation method in epidemiological investigations

The observation method in epidemiological investigations

The observation method is a critical component of field epidemiological investigations since they offer insight into the perceptions, values, opinions as well as community practices where the study is being done. Observation has proved critical in exploring contextual factors and rationale for certain risk behaviors that don not match with predefined categories. For instance, in the case of the Ebola virus infection outbreak that adversely affected West Africa between 2014and 2015, insight into the cultural implications such as different cultural burial practices within different societies in Africa was vital to formulating and monitoring interventions for safe burials. In this case, observation appeared critical in managing the condition (Benjamin, 2017).

Observation has equally proved vital in program evaluation. Observation helps the investigator in diagnosing what happened right and that which did not work correctly as part of process evaluation or in understanding why a program might not be effective as expected. For instance, why vaccination might be effective in a given community and fails in another region. When formulating an intervention, the observation method is useful in evaluating dimensions of acceptability to improve the chances of intervention acceptance and success (Benjamin, 2017). Qualitative observations, when combined with quantitative studies, the health researchers can confirm challenges or deepen the validity of a conclusion that neither component might have yielded alone (Benjamin, 2017).

Creating Quality Investigations

Observation is a kind of qualitative research approach which encompasses both participant’s observation and ethnography as well as research work in the field. In the observational research design, multiple study sites are involved. Observational data can be integrated as auxiliary or confirmatory research, as suggested by Jamshed, (2014).