The observational method in psychology: considerations for scientific production

The aim of the current report is to offer a global view of the scientific reports which have used observation as a research method, through a survey of articles, dissertations and theses available in important Brazilian data bases (Index Psi and Scielo). Papers were considered when “observation”, “observational” or “observational method” was in the title, abstracts or keywords. Only a few articles were read entirely if there were doubts as to the method used. One hundred and sixteen publications were selected, dating from 1970 to 2006, in the following serial browsings: Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, Psicologia, Estudos de Psicologia (Natal), Revista Brasileira de Psicanálise and Alter. Children in different situations and mother-baby interactions, as well as the observational method in psychologists’ formation and observational concepts and techniques were the most common themes found in the papers. Finally, there is a methodological and conceptual discussion considering observation as a method used to create research protocols, as well as the audiovisual source as an efficient technique to obtain and categorize data. Keywords: observation; observational method; publication in Psychology.