What research method provides a study of social life in its natural setting?
Naturalistic observation is a research method that involves observing subjects in their natural environment. This approach is often used by psychologists and other social scientists. It is a form of qualitative research, which focuses on collecting, evaluating, and describing non-numerical data. Show
It can be useful if conducting lab research would be unrealistic, cost-prohibitive, or would unduly affect the subject's behavior. The goal of naturalistic observation is to observe behavior as it occurs in a natural setting without interference or attempts to manipulate variables. This article discusses how naturalistic observation works and the pros and cons of doing this type of research. It also covers how data is collected and examples of when this method might be used. How Does Naturalistic Observation Work?People do not necessarily behave in a lab setting the way they would in a natural environment. Researchers sometimes want to observe their subject's behavior as it happens ("in the wild," so to speak). Psychologists can get a better idea of how and why people react the way that they do by watching how they respond to situations and stimuli in real life. Naturalistic observation is different than structured observation because it involves looking at a subject's behavior as it occurs in a natural setting, with no attempts at intervention on the part of the researcher. For example, a researcher interested in aspects of classroom behavior (such as the interactions between students or teacher-student dynamics) might use naturalistic observation as part of their research. Performing these observations in a lab would be difficult because it would involve recreating a classroom environment. This would likely influence the behavior of the participants, making it difficult to generalize the observations made. By observing the subjects in their natural setting (the classroom where they work and learn), the researchers can more fully observe the behavior they are interested in as it occurs in the real world. Basic Research in Psychology Naturalistic Observation Pros and ConsLike other research methods, naturalistic observation has advantages and disadvantages. Pros
Cons
ProsAn advantage of naturalistic observation is that it allows the investigators to directly observe the subject in a natural setting. The method gives scientists a first-hand look at social behavior and can help them notice things that they might never have encountered in a lab setting. The observations can also serve as inspiration for further investigations. The information gleaned from naturalistic observation can lead to insights that can be used to help people overcome problems and lead to healthier, happier lives. Other advantages of naturalistic observation include:
ConsNaturalistic observation can be useful in many cases, but the method also has some downsides. Some of these include:
It is also important to note that naturalistic observation is a type of correlational research (others include surveys and archival research). A correlational study is a non-experimental approach that seeks to find statistical relationships between variables. Naturalistic observation is one method that can be used to collect data for correlational studies. While such methods can look at the direction or strength of a relationship between two variables, they cannot determine if one causes the other. As the saying goes, correlation does not imply causation. Research Methods in Psychology Data Collection MethodsResearchers use different techniques to collect and record data from naturalistic observation. For example, they might write down how many times a certain behavior occurred in a specific period of time or take a video recording of subjects.
How Often Is Data Collected?It is rarely practical—or even possible—to observe every moment of a subject's life. Therefore, researchers often use sampling to gather information through naturalistic observation. The goal is to make sure that the sample of data is representative of the subject's overall behavior. A representative sample is a selection that accurately depicts the characteristics that are present in the total subject of interest. A representative sample can be obtained through:
Sampling in Psychology Research Examples of Naturalistic ObservationImagine that you want to study risk-taking behavior in teenagers. You might choose to observe behavior in different settings, such as a sledding hill, a rock-climbing wall, an ice-skating rink, and a bumper car ride. After you operationally define "risk-taking behavior," you would observe your teen subjects in these settings and record every incidence of what you have defined as risky behavior. Famous examples of naturalistic observations include Charles Darwin's journey aboard the HMS Beagle, which served as the basis for his theory of natural selection, and Jane Goodall's work studying the behavior of chimpanzees. How Social Psychologists Conduct Research A Word From VerywellNaturalistic observation can play an important role in the research process. It offers a number of advantages, including often being more affordable and less intrusive than other types of research. Which type of research method studies social life in its natural setting by observing and interviewing people where they live work and play?Ethnography generally involves researchers directly observing participants in their natural environments over time. A key feature of ethnography is the fact that natural settings, unadapted for the researchers' interests, are used.
In what type of research methods sociologists study social life in its natural setting through participant observation interviews and ethnography?In field research, sociologists study social life in its natural setting through participant observation, case studies, unstructured interviews, and ethnography. Through experiments, researchers study the impact of certain variables on their subjects.
What is the study of social life with the use of the scientific method?Sociology explains how people are totally determined by their social environment. Sociology uses the scientific method to try to understand the many aspects of society that sociologists study. Like physics, sociology uncovers the natural laws that govern human behavior.
Which research method is useful for studying a larger social setting?Participant observation is useful for gathering evidence by observing how people interact in a specific setting and allows sociologists to experience a particular social aspect. Through this method, researchers get first-hand information about a trend, behaviour, culture, or institution.
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