---
title: Observation
description: "Can be used in two slightly different ways in our field but in both cases it's synonymous with \"value of/for a variable (for person x at time t)\". The more restricted use tend to denote something quite literally observed by…"
url: "https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/observation/"
updated: "2021-11-05"
category: All OM book glossary entries
---

# Observation

Can be used in two slightly different ways in our field but in both cases it's synonymous with "value of/for a variable (for person x at time t)". The more restricted use tend to denote something quite literally observed by an observer: a rating or perhaps a reading from a scales, blood test or scan; however the term is also used for any value of/for a variable. It's probably a bit of a hang over from when data collected/observed by professionals were given much higher status than self-ratings.

#### Try also

Self-rating measure
Rating scale
Variable
Empirical research

#### Chapters

Runs throughout the book really.

#### Dates

Created 5/11/21.