6 – Unobtrusive Measurement

Why Should I Care?

There are hidden messages and meanings in landmarks, and objects that cannot speak. They have a story to tell if we know how to listen.

Definitions

Indirect Methods:
The study of human activity without the implication of humans in the observation process. 

Unobtrusive Measurement: 
The study of human activity through the use of use of physical evidence, observation, and archival or documentary evidence without the knowledge of participants. Objects of study are usually trace objects, the result of accretion, or the result of erosion.

Artifacts: 
a physical object made by a human being, often embodying cultural or historical interest.

Trace:
a physical object left behind by human activity, such as artifacts, landscape changes, infrastructure, paths, or pollution.

Accretion:
a physical object that is the result of accumulation, such as landfills, mounds, or unattended trash.

Erosion:
a physical manifestation of usage through time. Erosion is the result of wear, by humans, of a certain landscape, building, or infrastructure.

Usefulness

This method is especially useful when we want to measure what humans leave behind, in terms of accumulated objects, artifacts, infrastructure. Sometimes it's the only way to gather evidence because the humans in question are deceased, their culture has disappeared or changed radically, or they are not open to exchange information.

Unobtrusive Measurement is similar to Non-Participant Field Work, mostly because they involve observations without direct contact with humans. The instruments are the same: mostly recordings, and note taking. However, in Field Work, humans are being observed, which is not the case for Unobtrusive Measurement. For example, a research project where humans are unknowingly being observed, and/or recorded, is Field Work. Unobtrusive Measurement makes observations about objects that have been

Objects of Measurement

Type of Object	Yes	No	Maybe	Example
Personal Characteristic			X	Kitchen countertops height - clothes
Socio-Demographic Characteristic			X	Parking lot license plate
Opinion			X	Political signs on lawn
Motivations		X
Ideology			X
Biases / Prejudice			X
Preferences	X			garbage
Personal History / Background	X			flags, tombstones
Family Dynamics			X
Cultural History	X
Perception / Self-Perception		X
Aptitude /Ability			X
Behavior			X
Level of Knowledge		X

Sampling

Populations are widely defined and usually large, depending on the community. Population size may be unknown.

Samples are usually non-random, convenience and/or purposive.

For example, a researcher decides to look for gang graffiti in the city. Each graffiti found increases the sample size, and the population size. There is no registry of graffiti. It is impossible to estimate the sample share of population because the population is unknown.

Again, let's imagine a researcher who is analyzing Greek statues. It is difficult to know the exact number of statues that were produced because many of them may have been lost, stolen, plundered, broken in war, or destroyed by enemy raids.

You often get to sample only what is left.

Instruments

Artifacts are observed and recorded using an array of mediums. Scientists will use photography, video camera, drawings, and notes. They will map their findings and tally results in tables.

Unobtrusive measurement does not use direct instruments such as questionnaires, interviews, and laboratories.

Scientific Power

Exploratory:
Unobtrusive Measurement is very fitting for exploratory research projects. If you hear about a certain group of people, you may not want to approach them for interviews at first occasion. It might be best to learn their ways from their architecture, physical presence, objects left behind.

For example, the difference between a fortified castle and a posh residence is that soldiers can hide behind the crenels on the roof of the castle. It may not be safe to come knocking on the door.

Objects are also more practical to analyze at the beginning of a research project. The first thing we see are objects and traces. They are the “trail” to follow.

Descriptive:
This method is also quite useful for descriptive studies. Actually, people often underestimate the power of simple observation.

For example, if you ask a man to describe his income, he may reply that he is not very wealthy. Of course, if he is driving a German sports car, and wearing a bespoke English suit... it makes his humble assertion difficult to believe. Observations of artifacts, objects and physical traces can complement other methods, such as field work, survey, and content analysis.

The more you see, the more you describe.

Explanatory:
Some phenomena can be explained using Unobtrusive Measurement. For example, carbon dating objects found in archeological digs, we can estimate with greater precision the periods when objects were used, and the technological changes undergoing in specific areas. A study of the Arctic has shown that Inuit in Canada were spinning their own yarn before the arrival of the Viking in the coast of Labrador. This finding contradicts previous assertions that the Inuit learned to spin yarn from the Viking, who were known for many technologies including smelting iron ore from the underside of grassy patches on the Island of Newfoundland.

Inuit Spun Wool Prior to Viking Contact

https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2018/07/27/indigenous-norse-spinning-archeology/

Steps

1. Identify population/topic
2. Choose recording tool
3. Record audio-visual
4. Analyze, Interpret, and Report

Advantages

1. Useful when people are unwilling to answer surveys
2. Reveal habitual behavior
3. Useful for people who are not articulate (children) (or lost in translation)
4. Allows to triangulate with other methods, to check validity of results

Disadvantages

1. Lack of context
2. Physical evidence is limited in objects of measurement
3. Time-consuming
4. Hazardous (ex: gangs, drug rings)
5. Ethical considerations if researcher needs to be covert

Reporting

Social Linkages Maps

Spatial Maps

Descriptive Text

Synthesis Tables

Preferred Disciplines

 Anthropology, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, History

If you are interested in being trained in Unobtrusive Measurement, one would recommend studying anthropology and geography. These disciplines are devoted to the method and use it tremendously. Other disciplines are also keen on using the method, such as sociology, psychology, and history, but they remain somewhat on the sidelines of the method, having their own preferences. 

Other Non-scientific Disciplines

Applications in Marketing, Criminology, Journalism

Any analyst can get caught up by working from home, or the office, using all sorts of data. However, the reader will see the difference when someone is writing with some on-the-ground experience. You can use observations to build your introduction, to add character, or color, to the writing. Observations of places, infrastructure, or art, cannot be argued away. You saw these things with your own eyes and they exist. They may be anecdotal, but they exist.

Not commonly used by

Economists, Political Scientists

Economics usually shies away from the qualitative methods, especially something such as unobtrusive measurement. The analysis of economic phenomena is however not confined to the discipline of economics. For example, anthropologists regularly discuss the study of economic systems in what they term 'material culture'. This has usually to do with simpler technologies, in less advanced civilizations, or past civilizations.

This does not mean that economists should keep to spreadsheets. They should have an idea of what's going on in the world, physically speaking. Are companies stocked with actual inventory? Are mining operations producing adequate supply? Home mortgages might be on the rise, but what do the homes look like?

Canadian Banker in Africa Anecdote

True story: A Canadian banker is working with a developing country to establish community financial services. A car loan application comes onto his desk, and by looking at the numbers, the Canadian professional instructs the bank officer to approve the loan. The bank officer notices there is a photo of the car to be purchased. It is a used car, and the hood is closed. Before signing off on the loan, he decides to see the car for himself. It had no engine.

Moral of the story? People lie. Sometimes you have to see things with your own eyes.

Political scientists also tend to rely on other methods. They use survey data and content analysis profusely. Again, this does not mean they should not be sensitive to the physical manifestation of human activity. For example, the existence of cities, and material accumulation of wealth, is not equally dispersed over land. This will have political consequences in elections, and other political activities. Driving around neighborhoods, you can get a pretty good idea of the political parties in favour, by observing the monochromatic colored lawn signs people use to show their support for one party or the other.

Color Coded Politics

photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_sign