Steps in Developing Observation ScheduletChecklist:
i) The first step is to select the aspect of behaviour to be observed. We cannot notice everything that happens and we can't record everything we notice, so to carry out systematic observation, we must select certain aspects of categories of behaviour to be observed e.g. a researcher in her doctoral thesis isolated behaviours based on model of professional nurse behaviour related to tracheobronchial toilet and breathing exercises for the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She has selected 8 activity areas under two main attributes and listed 43 behaviours to describe these activity areas. In order to clarify the aspects of behaviour to be observed, she listed these 42 behaviours in terms of observable phenomenon.
ii) The investigator lists the categories of behaviours that mayor may not be manifested by the subjects. The observer watches foi- the behaviours given on the list and put a check off beside the appropriate behaviour when it occurs. The observer does not classify all the behaviours or characteristics of the individuals being observed but rather identifies the occurrence and frequency of particular behaviour. The patient centered nursing care-time study conducted by College of Nursing and TNAI (1966) used 16 broad nursing care activities which were coded 1 to 16. The examples of behaviour under each nursing tasks were given in the guide.. The observer did a continuous observation of the nursing activities giving the time of starting and time of finishing. The observer identified not only the occurrence and frequency of behaviour but also the time taken for the behaviour. to occur.
iii) The most common method used in structured observation is construction of category system to which observed behaviours or characteristics can be assigned. In category system an attempt is made to designate in a systematic or quantitative fashion the qualitative behaviour and events transpiring within the observation setting.