“What, How, Why” Observation Tool
What is this?
This is a simple hierarchy of questions to guide observational note-taking, starting with concrete observations and ending with educated interpretation.
When should I use this?
Use this method when you are trying to make sense of people’s actions through observation, perhaps in a new or unfamiliar situation.
More about this...
Observations can land you in ambiguous situations, especially if you’ve identified a challenge and are trying to find out what’s causing it. Having a structured observation tool can give you a place to start and a consistent structure to use over multiple observations.