Informal observation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Informal observation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a casual or non-structured way of observing something, often in contexts like research, education, or social settings. Example: "During the meeting, I made an informal observation about the team's dynamics and how they interacted with each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Informal observation reveals that exotic kikuyo grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) is the dominant ground cover colonizing unbuilt areas, vacant lots, roadsides, unattended green spaces, etc.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Informal observation at private clinics and community health centres during the conduct of the study found that there were no X-ray machines available at these clinics.

BMC Health Services Research

This paper addresses a set of research questions that capture this informal observation.

Journal of Systems and Software

To obtain statistical data a survey design was employed, research methods including postal questionnaires complemented by selected interviews and a small amount of informal observation.

Nurse Education Today

MoreTeaVicar I can give you my recorded demographics for indie from the early 90s to 2003 – after that I relied on informal observation (just looking at crowds), although these demographics are pretty consistent to the present.

The Guardian - Music

Our informal observation is that wearing a hyper-realistic mask attenuates some forms of facial movement.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Informal observations hint at possible explanations.

The New York Times

I also made informal observations during my one-week stay in Coimbra.

University of California, Berkeley

Goldman had previously said it provided informal observations to Green on the prospective buyer and was not paid for its work.

The Guardian - Business

Now that their contention received a boost from Pew, we decided it was time to fact-check our informal observations about the coverage.

The Washington Post

Continuing supervision consisting of frequent formal and informal observations, along with numerous opportunities for the teacher and administrator to reflect on what is working and what is not, is essential.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "informal observation", clarify the context and limitations of your observations, particularly in research or professional settings. Acknowledge that the findings are not based on rigorous, controlled methods.

Common error

Avoid presenting conclusions derived from "informal observation" as definitive or universally applicable. Always frame them as preliminary insights or hypotheses that require further investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "informal observation" typically functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a method of gathering information. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "informal observation" is a commonly used term that describes gathering insights through casual, unstructured methods. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's prevalent in scientific, news, and academic contexts, denoting preliminary explorations or when formal research is limited. Alternatives include "casual observation" and "unstructured observation". When using "informal observation", it's important to acknowledge the limitations and avoid overstating the significance of the findings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

casual observation

Replaces "informal" with "casual", suggesting a less structured approach to noticing.

unstructured observation

Substitutes "informal" with "unstructured", emphasizing the lack of a rigid framework.

non-systematic observation

Replaces "informal" with "non-systematic", highlighting the absence of a methodical process.

observational assessment

Replaces "observation" with "assessment" to change the phrase from a process into a type of evaluation

impressionistic assessment

Replaces "informal observation" to highlight more the subjective nature of gathering informations

qualitative assessment

Replaces "informal observation" with an approach of assessment that is focused in gathering and analysing qualitative information

cursory inspection

Replaces "observation" with "inspection" and add "cursory" to the assessment and implies a swift examination

brief survey

Replaces "observation" with "survey" and add "brief" to the assessment, it is less focused on detailed documentation.

general impression

Shifts the focus to the overall feeling or understanding gained, rather than the act of observing.

anecdotal evidence

This refers to evidence based on personal accounts rather than systematic research, sharing the informal nature of the original phrase.

FAQs

What does "informal observation" mean in research?

In research, "informal observation" refers to gathering data through casual or unstructured methods, without formal protocols. It's often used for preliminary exploration or generating hypotheses.

How does "informal observation" differ from formal observation?

Formal observation involves structured data collection using predefined methods, while "informal observation" is more casual and less systematic. Formal observation ensures greater reliability and validity.

When is it appropriate to use "informal observation"?

"Informal observation" is appropriate for initial explorations, pilot studies, or when resources for formal research are limited. However, results should be interpreted cautiously and validated with more rigorous methods.

What are some alternatives to "informal observation"?

You can use alternatives like "casual observation", "unstructured observation", or "non-systematic observation" to convey a similar meaning.