General Psychology

The Study of UTP Student Behaviour in the Information

Resource Centre through Natural Observation.
Introduction
Academic libraries have always had a mandate to provide effective and efficient library services
to all members of their constituency, such as students, lecturers and other academic staffs
(Suarez, 2007).
Problem Statement
Previous researches done by (Bedwell & Banks, 2013) and
(Suarez, 2007) only focuses on behaviour of students in
academic libraries qualitatively.
Due to difficulty in identifying the main attributes which
actually represent the behavior itself, none of the research
truly identifies the behavior of students in academic library.
Objectives
To study the behaviour of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP)s students
in Information Resource Centre (IRC) quantitatively using Natural Observation Method.
To compare the results obtained before and after approaching the subject.
Literature Review
Natural Observation
Observing the subject in their normal environment.
Non-obstructive.
Collection of data without manipulation of the environment
Minimum impact as possible on both the environment and the subject's behaviour.
 Literature Review
Natural Observation
Describe
Collecting systematic observations
Predict
Establish relationships among variables
(Correlational research)
Explain
Establishing cause and effect
relationships (Experiments)
Literature Review
Natural Observation
Reactivity
Reactivity refers to situations where a subjects
behaviour is different when the subject knows
they are being observed, or their behaviour is
being studied, than it would otherwise be.
Literature Review
Methods of Natural Observation
Tally counts: The observer writes down when and how many times certain behaviours occurred.
Observer narratives: The observer may take notes during the session and then go back later to try
to collect data and discern behaviour patterns from these notes.
Time sampling: Involves taking samples as different intervals of time, which may be random or
systematic.
Situation sampling: Involves observing behaviour in a variety of different situations and settings.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
Allows researchers to study things which cannot be manipulated in a lab due to ethical concerns.
Help support the external validity of research.
Allows the researchers to directly observe the subject in a natural setting.

Disadvantage:
Cannot control for outside variables.
Threat of reactivity of subject.
METHODOLOGY
 CONTENTS
Selection of natural observation theme

Data Collection

Result and Statistics

Final report completion

 SELECTION OF NATURAL
OBSERVATION THEME

BRAINSTORMING IDEAS Finally, one topic is chosen

Observation of students in due to time constraint and
UTP library commitment requirement.
Reverse parking Natural observation of
observation at UTP. UTP students at the
Self-awareness of UTP Library was the topic
student. chosen.
 DATA COLLECTION
Team members on duty according to roaster given.
The time and week chosen was during the finals for the foundation students due
to large presence of students in the library and hence more results to obtain.
Chronological steps of the Natural observation done at the UTP library.
Observer Observer will
chooses the Observer will determine their
respondent approach them honesty based
and observe and as a set of on the
them for 10 questions. observation
done.
minutes.
 RESULTS AND STATISTIC
The data collected will be analysed in the form of GRAPH and PIE
CHART.

Results of the observation split into two categories which were

studying and resting.

PIE CHART: used to show the number of years of study of the

respondents and also gender.

Discussion over results are performed in psychology view.

FINAL REPORT COMPLETION
All data and finding to be compiled and
documented in softcopy and hardcopy.

Lecturer will review the report.

Later, report is presented in class.

Report and presentation to be evaluated

for final marks.
RESULTS AND
STATISTICS
 STUDY AND RESTING
Based on the observation and survey done, the result
will be divided into two categories which are study and
rest which are shown below:-
Intention of Coming to
Real intention observed
Categ IRC in the First Place
( Number of
ory (number of
respondents)
respondents)
Study 108 80
Restin
3 31
g
Total 111 111
 108

80

31

Intention of Respondents Real Intention Observed

 YEARS OF STUDY
Table and Year Of Study Number of
Figure Respondents
describe
Final Year 26
the
number of First Year 6
total Foundation 56
responden PG 8
t with
respect of Second Year 6
their year Third Year 9
of study. Total 111
Figure shows the number of total respondent
with respect of their year of study
 EFFECT OF GENDER
Parts of personal details Number of
info are the gender Gender Respondent
Tables and figures s
represent the data.
Female 59
The result from this
section are showing
female students have a Male 52
slightly higher number
than male students Total 111
The pie chart above show the percentage of male to female..
 HONESTY OF STUDENTS
Table and figure below Number of
shows the pie chart Honesty
respondents
covering up to 25.2% of
the respondents were not Yes 83
honest when the observer
confront them with
question of the intention of No 28
coming to library.
Total 111
Figure above show the data in a pie chart form..
Discussion
Study & Rest
108

80
Students are more honest to admit that they are studying than to admit resting.

Only 3 students admit to be resting while 31 are in fact are.

With final exams around the corner, students tend to think of themselves as
studying regardless of their actions.

31

3
Intention of Respondents Real Intention Observed
Year of study
Year of study
8%
5% 23%

7%
Majority of the students are foundation students.

Followed by final year and third year.

5%
Third and final year usually come to library for projects and group discussions.

50%

Final Year First Year Foundation

PG Second Year Third Year
Effects of gender
Effects of gender

Our sample is dominated by females.

The sample includes many groups that usually include 2 or 3 girls.

47%
Many couples are also included in the sample resulting in a high number of girls
53% in our samples.

Female Male
Honesty of students
Honesty Of Students

25%

75% of the sample were honest to report their actual intention of visiting the
IRC.

The time for conducting the experiment was close to final exams.

Most students were serious about going to the IRC before the finals.

75%

Honest Dishonest
Conclusion
Conclusion
A study on the behavior of students in the Information Resources Center was
conducted through the qualitative method of natural observation.
The study was planned and 111 students were interviewed over the course of
three days.
The students sample was dominated by females (53%) with the majority
from Foundation program (51%) and 75% of the students were honest when
asked about their intention of coming to IRC.
Only 3 students admitted to be resting out of 31 students who were actually
resting.
Students tend hide their motivation to rest as its shunned upon especially
during the study week.
References
Bedwell, L., & Banks, C. (2013). Seeing Through the Eyes of Students: Participant
Observation in an Academic Library. Retrieved from Partnership:
https://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/perj/article/view/2502/2905#.VjYUdLcrLIU.
Cherry, K. (n.d.). What is Naturalistic Observation? Retrieved from About Education:
http://psychology.about.com/od/nindex/g/naturalistic.htm.

Q&
Cloud, D. (n.d.). Naturalistic Observation in Psychology: Definition & Examples. Retrieved
from Study.com: http://study.com/academy/lesson/naturalistic-observation-in-psychology-
definition-examples.html.
Jackson, S. L. (2014). Research Methods and Statistics: A Critical Thinking Approach (Fifth
ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning..
Radford University. (n.d.). Naturalistic Observation. Retrieved from Radford University Official

A
Website: http://www.radford.edu/~tpierce/201%20files/201%20handouts/Naturalistic
%20Observationl%20ecture%20notes.pdf.
Suarez, D. (2007). What Students Do When They Study in the Library: Using Ethnographic
Methods to Observe Student Behavior. Retrieved from Electronic Journal of Academic and
Special Librarianship:
http://southernlibrarianship.icaap.org/content/v08n03/suarez_d01.html.
Funmilayo, D. C. (2013, July 5). Gender differences in the use of academic resources:
the case of FUTA library. international Journal of Library and Information Science,
5(8), 256-261. doi: 10.5897/ijlis2013.0375.