Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
How to observe business operations: An empirical study of family business
1Graduate Institute of Management, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract:
The direct observation method is commonly used for data collection in family business case studies. Nevertheless, in research on family business succession that is mainly based on retrospective data, it is difficult to directly observe an event or situation at a given time. This paper thus first explores the application of observation data in the published research results of some family business case studies through a literature review. It then describes our observation methodology, i.e., sampling process, method, observation process, and reevaluation of our interview data, through a case study. Finally, the conclusion offers suggestions for using these observation methods, i.e., employing different types of observation, by considering running time and financial cost, familiarizing observers with various observation occasions, and seeking the assistance of relevant professionals for a research topic.
Related Concept Videos
Case Studies
Naturalistic Observations
Data Collection by Observations
An astronomer viewing the motion and brightness of stars in the sky and recording the data is an example of observational data collection. A botanist recording...
Study Design in Statistics
Does aspirin reduce the risk of heart attacks? Is one brand of fertilizer more effective at growing roses than another? Is fatigue as dangerous to a driver as the influence of alcohol? Questions like these are answered using randomized experiments with proper...
Observational Studies
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
Actor-Observer Effect

