Observation mediated by computer - a professional report

Abstract

New observation forms are being studied as form of enlarging the potential of this data collection technique. The objective was to describe the use of observation mediated by computer as a resource of observation instrument. The paper consists of the description of three points: the adaptation of software as observation instruments in researches; the advantages of such use; and limitations of the method. The noticed advantages are: it makes possible a complete observation of the users' actions; it records the actions as in the screen as the sounds; it complement and confront the collected information; it emit a digital registration of the user's actions. Related to the limitations was observed that they present a high cost; It needs the user's attention in the sense to activate the recording software; it depends on the reliability of the operating system that can stop and cause the loss of the recorded actions; and very big files. It is concluded that such resource is an important source shown for data collection considered singular in this process.