PSYCH ∙ Ms. Wiley ∙ Naturalistic Observation, D___
Name:
Background Information on Naturalistic Observations: Observational research is a type of
nonexperimental research in which a researcher observes ongoing behavior. Naturalistic
observation is a research tool used by psychologists in which a subject (or subjects) is/are
observed in its natural habitat without any manipulation or intervention by the researcher. It is
simply studying behaviors that occur naturally in natural contexts, unlike the artificial
environment of a controlled laboratory setting. Importantly, in naturalistic observation, there is
no attempt to manipulate variables.
Strengths: We can measure what behavior is really like. After all, the researcher is observing real-life. By merely observing a given
instance without any manipulation in its natural context makes the behaviors exhibited more credible because they are occurring in
a real scenario as opposed to an artificial one generated within a lab. In short, we can see what people really do rather than what
they say they do or what they show us when they know we’re studying them. Naturalistic observation also allow for study of events
that it is deemed unethical to study via experimental models, such as the impact of high school shootings on students attending the
high school.
Weaknesses: We don't know the cause of behaviors, nor do we know if any observation is representative of what normally occurs
(unless we observe regularly). Another weakness in naturalistic observation is that different observers may draw different
conclusions from the same witnessed behavior.
There are three specific criteria for an observational research study to be considered 'naturalistic.' If any one of these three is
violated, the research is no longer naturalistic observation: 1) The setting must be natural. A researcher cannot adjust, control,
change, or influence the setting or environment. 2) The event must be natural. If you're interested in arguments and you wanted to
use naturalistic observation, you would have to wait until an argument occurred to collect data. Staging a fake argument is not a
natural event and thereby violates this criterion. 3) The behavior must be natural. This requires that a researcher be unnoticed. For
example, if you're measuring walking speed, you have to make sure you are sneaky about it; if anyone notices you with a stopwatch
and a notepad, their behavior will likely change as a result, thereby violating this criterion.
Why would it matter that one of the above criteria is violated? Because of reactivity; people you're observing will act differently if
they know the situation isn't natural, that the event isn't natural, or that they're being measured. Is this a problem in laboratory
research? Don't participants know they're being observed and measured? Wouldn't this affect their behavior? Absolutely, positively,
yes! When we conduct experiments, we can’t help but introduce unnaturalness. Following ethical research guidelines, we inform
participants about the study and get their consent to participate, but when people know we’re observing them, their behavior
changes. This is known as the Hawthorne Effect.
Researchers may use a number of different techniques to collect data from naturalistic observation. This might involve writing down
the number of times a certain behavior occurred in a specific period of time. Or, the observer may take notes during the session and
then go back later to discern behavior patterns from said notes. Because it is rarely practical or even possible to observe every
moment of a subject’s life, researchers often use sampling. The goal is to make sure that this sample of data is representative of the
subject’s overall behavior. To ensure this, psychologists will take samples at different intervals of time, which may be random or
systematic.
Let’s imagine that you want to study the differences in risk-taking behavior between teenage boys and girls. You might choose to
observe behavior in a few different settings, such as on a sledding hill, a rock-climbing wall, an ice-skating rink, and a bumper car
ride. After you define risk-taking behavior, you would then observe teens in these settings and record your findings.
Instructions: You and your group members will conduct a naturalistic observation during school hours over the next few days. It
must be something that ALL group members have the ability to observe, at least twice. What behaviors could you observe and take
notes on during lunch alone? Note: You are not to SPY on anyone! Naturalistic observation should only occur in PUBLIC PLACES.
1.
Decide what you will observe and develop a hypothesis – what do you THINK you will see during your observation? For example,
‘It is hypothesized that 60% of women will look in the mirror while only 25% of men will look in the mirror while passing by.’
Record hypothesis below:
2.
Make a record of your subject(s), gathering data which will begin to test your hypothesis. Make sure you are not discovered (so
that the naturalistic quality of the observation is not lost). Take notes on everything you can observe about the subject(s). You
should aim to observe the subject(s) at least twice (for greater accuracy). Record notes here:
My Notes
3.
Additional Group Notes
Reflect on your observations in a 1-paragraph reflection. Try to be as descriptive as
possible, but feel free to make well-reasoned inferences about what you have seen. Your
report should include the following:
a. An introduction which tells what the observation is about. You should explain
how you came up with your hypothesis and why you chose the particular
setting and subject(s) to test.
b. A detailed account of the subject(s) and of the behaviors you observed. Data
should include raw numbers.
c. A discussion of any conclusions you can draw from the observation.
d. An evaluation (critique) of your observation, mentioning any flaws in your
methodology that may have led to inaccurate data.