OBSERVATION 



between disease and type of pasture, weather or system of 

 management. Most of the relationships observed are due to 

 chance and have no significance, but occasionally one will lead 

 to a fruitful idea. It is as well to forget statistics when doing 

 this and consider the possibiUty of some significance behind 

 slender associations in the observed data, even though they 

 would be dismissed at a glance if regarded on a mathematical 

 basis. More discoveries have arisen from intense observation 

 of very limited material than from statistics appUed to large 

 groups. The value of the latter Hes mainly in testing hypotheses 

 arising from the former. While observing one should cultivate 

 a speculative, contemplative attitude of mind and search for clues 

 to be followed up. 



Training in observation follows the same principles as training 

 in any activity. At first one must do things consciously and 

 laboriously, but with practice the activities gradually become 

 automatic and unconscious and a habit is established. Effective 

 scientific observation also requires a good background, for only 

 by being familiar with the usual can we notice something as 

 being unusual or unexplained. 



SUMMARY 



Accurate observation of complex situations is extremely 

 difficult, and observers usually make many errors of which 

 they are not conscious. Effective observation involves noticing 

 something and giving it significance by relating it to something 

 else noticed or already known; thus it contains both an element 

 of sense-perception and a mental element. 



It is impossible to observe everything, and so the observer 

 has to give most of his attention to a selected field, but he 

 should at the same time try to watch out for other things, 

 especially anything odd. 



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