Comte among the methods used to study phenomena in sociology, is the most effective surveillance.It is necessary to sociological knowledge are accurate, objective and scientific.
observation sociology reduced to the observation of social facts.They are understood observable physical manifestations of human behavior.This observation helped put the sociology of science to the rank of private, make it studied the material nature of scientific objectivity.
Observation in sociology is always based on a certain theory that is necessary for the effectiveness of this method.In addition, the observation implies a clear distinction between subject and object.The observation in sociology according Comte is only possible from the outside.Then I turned on the observation did not know.This method appeared only in the twentieth century in empirical sociology and immediately became very popular.
observation sociology - a method that is used with certain restrictions, since not all social phenomena can be studied with it.This is possible only with objects that can be perceived by means of hearing and vision.For example, a strike must be investigated with the mandatory use of this method.Of course, it should be applied in a single complex with many other methods of collecting information.
However, not every auditory and visual observation can be called supervision in the scientific sense.To convert a simple contemplation of the scientific method, it is necessary to implement a number of research procedures.This isolation of problems and hypotheses to be tested;Define the scene, its subject, category, conditions of observation units to prepare tools in the form of diaries, records, facilities, programs, data, etc.
next step is piloting tools and making adjustments to it, a plan for monitoring, development of instructions.Only then you can proceed to the implementation of complex transactions related to direct supervision in accordance with the above requirements.
There are different types of observation in sociology .
external monitoring (side) allows to fix the activity of a social group without taking part in it.This observation may manifest or hidden (for example, because of the semitransparent mirror).
Participant observation in sociology implies participation observed in the activity of the studied social group by becoming one of its members.In this case, his role can also be overt and covert (unknown team members).Using this method the researcher minimal impact, or deliberately does not work on the study were subjected to a reality.Its possible impact is regarded as a forced error.
However, in some cases, the researchers deliberately create situations that are of interest to him.As far as possible, such artificial situations as possible disguised as reality.In sociology, this method is called the experimental observation.Even under laboratory conditions it is possible to create an environment closer to a reality.
Types observation in sociology be divided on other grounds : on the application or non-application equipment (recording, recording, measuring), according to the frequency, duration, and number of other features.Separate laboratory, field and mixed observation.Demarcates standardized and non-standardized observation.With different methods are essentially systematic, episodic and casual observation.By formalization distinguish uncontrolled (non-standardized, unstructured) and controlled observation.
