Survey of education is a method for researchers to make a purposeful and planned investigation and description of educational phenomena in a certain time and space through the senses or with the help of certain scientific instruments under relatively natural conditions. Its characteristics are vivid, true, natural, direct and informative. According to different standards, survey of education methods can be divided into different categories. Survey of education plays a very important role in educational science research. It has its own advantages, such as simplicity, but it also has limitations. Different types of survey of education methods have different characteristics, but the following steps are common: defining the purpose and content of observation; General investigation and exploratory observation; Choose the observation method; Prepare observation records.

1. Natural observation and experimental observation

(1) Natural observation is observation in a natural state, that is, the observation environment is not changed and controlled by natural events.

(2) Experimental observation is a systematic observation in an artificially controlled environment. Have a clear observation purpose and a careful implementation plan, accurately observe the behavior of the observed object, and have one or more influences on the behavior of the observed person.

Factors (independent variables) are controlled, and the influence of this control on the observed behavior (dependent variables) is observed, so as to find the relationship between these influencing factors and the observed behavior.

2. Direct observation and indirect observation.

(1) direct observation method is a method of directly observing the activities of the subject through the senses of the observer to obtain specific and initial first-hand materials.

(2) Indirect observation is a way for observers to observe the activities of the research object with the help of certain instruments and equipment.

3. Participatory observation and non-participatory observation.

(1) Participatory observation method is that researchers participate in the activities of the observed object and observe from the inside through the activities carried out together with the observed object. All participatory observation studies are between "the observation of participants" and "the participation of observers".

(2) Non-participation observation is a method of gradually studying any activity of the observed object and observing it completely as an outsider.

4. There are structured observation and unstructured observation.

(1) Structured observation method means that there is a detailed observation plan and a clear observation index system before observation, and the observation is carried out in strict accordance with the plan, which can systematically and effectively control the whole observation process and record it completely.

(2) The unorganized observation method means that the researcher only has the general observation purpose and requirements, or only the general observation scope and content, and there is no detailed observation plan and observation index system.

5. Time sampling observation method and event sampling observation method

(1) time sampling observation method is to observe within a certain period of time and make a comprehensive observation record of all kinds of behaviors and events of the observed object during this period or at this moment.

(2) Event sampling observation is to observe and record the background, causes, process, results and duration of representative behaviors or phenomena related to a certain research purpose.