Observation Skills Matter

1. Observation Skills Matter

2. “You have seen but not observed” • Who said this quote? • What do you think is the difference between seeing and observing? • Much emphasis placed computer research, etc., but not always practical, cannot do the observing for us. • Observing is instinctive.

3. Process of observation • Ask yourself the following questions as you approach an observational problem: • What is the issue? • What are you observing – document, person, place, thing • If the subject is familiar, how can you look at it in a new way? • If the subject is new, can you find something familiar in it? • Will broadening the search aid in the solution?

4. What is the issue? • Careful observation of something that doesn’t resolve the problem at hand is a waste of time. • Before you can start focusing, have a clear view of what you are trying to accomplish.

5. New Look at the familiar • Realize that everything in the world is unique in some way. Uniformity can dull our senses, but each individual product has unique characteristics • Looking for qualities that separate the familiar from the unfamiliar is a skill worth developing. When reading a familiar scene, you can spot details that will break the case.

6. Find Familiar in the New • When confronted with something totally new, try associate it with existing knowledge… can you think of some examples?

7. Observing Documents, People, Places, & Things • General principles for observing the real world rest on creativity… “Make the familiar strange and the strange familiar” • Asking yourselves seemingly unusual questions will generate new insights. • Need to adapt by perceiving the world through many eyes to survive intellectually. • You will broaden your search capabilities and acquire a knack for seeing things where / how they are not supposed to be.

8. Observing People • Always do a mental inventory first – how does the person’s behavior appear? • Take note of dress, style, tattoos, etc… can tell you a great deal about their attitudes concerning themselves and others, but… • Be careful not to steroetype, though don’t be afraid to characterize through observation – basis of profiling

9. Observing a Place • Determine the underlying motivation behind what you see • For example, if a person’s yard and home appear chaotic, think about why that could be. • Look for signs of what is going on (or what went on)

10. Observing Things • Try to understand the thinking behind the creation of the object – this thinking takes into account other things the item may be used for • For example, think about a pencil, what are its uses? • Most important thing to do is break out of preconceived notions

11. Observing Documents • Just can’t scan for details, need to organize info to look for patterns. Organize by: • By Time – create chronologies • By Continuum – magnitude scale • By Alphabet – basic organization provides cross reference for other types • By Topic – can help recognize common incidents • By Location – look for spatial relationships

12. Summary • Try to see a scene through varied perspectives • Develop as many correlations as possible • Have a goal when you are observing.