M4A2 - Essay Example

Argosy M4A2 Impact of an Observer Michelle Cheasty Carolina Volpato Introduction This present paper is part of an ongoing study that focuses on the issue of stress at work. This present paper is prepared based on the premise that the personal involvement and immersion of a researcher into a study possibly affects the subjects being studied, the research findings, and even the researcher herself. Therefore, this present paper seeks to spell out the impact that an observer could have on the current study that is being conducted.

Impact of the researcher’s involvement and immersion in the study According to studies conducted by Wallen and Fraenkel (2013), they noted that in most cases, researchers approach the research process with a biased mindset. The researchers’ social conditioning dictates on the direction, which the research study should go, and any diversion from this direction would create an assumption that the research missed a critical step or there were some inefficiencies in the research process. Consequently, the research by Baumgarten (2012) showed that the involvement and immersion of a researcher in the study would affect the subjects being studied since the researcher will seek to influence them to follow a particular direction.

Secondly, the findings will be inclined towards a pre-determined biased side that conforms to the desired findings of the researcher, and lastly, the researcher himself will be forced to take a particular biased side on the study, which conforms and can be accepted in the surrounding social environment. Impact of an observer on the study being conducted The ongoing study is on the issue of stress at work and since there are numerous studies on the same issue and even perhaps the experience of the researcher with the issue of stress at work, it is highly likely that the researcher may take a biased side on the entire study.

In order to ensure that the entire study is not flawed with biasness, Engel and Schutt (2012) suggested that use of an external observer who can validate the entire research process since he will approach the study without any bias on the issue being investigated. According to Engel and Schutt (2012), the presence of an observer will ensure that the researcher devises a research design that can produce unbiased findings; secondly, the observer will ensure that the researcher does not in any way try to influence the research participants in order for them to give a desired feedback.

In relation to this, Baumgarten (2012) stated that researchers at times ask probing questions that forces the participants to answer the questions in a particular manner that is desired by the researcher. Additionally, an observer in the ongoing study will ensure that the researcher records the findings in the actual manner as they were recorded in the secondary sources and even how the research participants wrote their feedback, without any form of manipulation. Conclusion It is common for most researchers to approach a research process with a biased mindset, which is usually influenced by the surrounding social environment of the researcher.

Therefore, an observer provides checks and balances to ensure that the researcher’s biasness does not in any way affect or influence those being studied and even the research findings. References Baumgarten, M. (2012). Paradigm Wars – Validity and Reliability in Qualitative Research. Germany: GRIN Verlag Engel, R. and Schutt, R. (2012). The Practice of Research in Social Work. (3rd Edition). California, U.S: SAGE Publications, Inc Wallen, N. and Fraenkel, J. (2013). Educational Research: A Guide to the Process.

UK: Taylor & Francis Publishers