1. Contexts
   1. Spatial use of sites: These sites include workplaces, retail areas, public areas. This method is used to examine how space is used. A site can be large or small. Regardless of the space, understanding should be as how it is used in relation to design and capacity.
   2. Workplace behaviour: Observation allows a range of workplace behaviours to be examined. It also provide insights into workplace behaviour. Observation can be more fruitful than interviews when researching even potentially deviant behaviour.
   3. Consumer testing: Such an observer evaluates cleanliness, information availability, information clarity, product availability, staff availability.
   4. Complementary research: Complementing interview surveys in order to compensate for variation in sampling rates.
   5. Social behavior: Developing ideas and theories using an interactive and inductive process.
2. Elements Of Observational Research
   1. Key elements
      1. Partcipants
      2. The setting
      3. The purpose
      4. Social behaviour
      5. Frequency and duration
   2. Steps Involved
      1. Choosing a site
      2. Choosing observation point(s)
      3. Choosing study time period(s)
      4. Continuous observation
      5. Determine count frequency
      6. Decide what to observe by recording people's positions directly.
      7. Dividing sites into zones and recording people activities within these zones
      8. Designing recording sheet
      9. Conducting observation that generally should be straightforward
      10. Analysing data
3. Technical Aids
   1. Aerial photography
   2. Still photography
   3. Video
   4. Time lapse photography
   5. Automatic counters
4. By Just Looking
   1. Familiarity with a workplace activity or customer behaviour patterns assists in designing good research project