Different conceptions of observation in sociology and anthropology

Abstract

The paper contains introductory considerations regarding the observation such as particular method and research procedure in social sciences. The observation is greatly neglected in favor of so called qualitative research methods or field work today. The observation is the strongest research procedure due to it has the most direct approach to the examined phenomena. In this text the different traditions of the observation in social sciences (sociology, psychology, anthropology, pedagogy) are considered. Present neglecting of observation is explained by the impact of epistemological as well as social factors. Former ones are related to the growing division among the philosophy of science and the methodologies of particular sciences. Latter are conditioned by subversive potential of observation in comparison to more fashioned methods and procedures.