IB Docs (2) Team
Naturalistic observations
HL Paper 3: Naturalistic observations
This component focuses on naturalistic observations - the one type of observation that the IB asks you to know for the exam. The characteristics of these observations will be discussed, as well as the strengths and limitations of the research method. Although you are not required to evaluate the method on Paper 3, this may prove useful on either Paper 1 or 2.
Before beginning this module, be sure to read HL: Understanding observations
Upon completion of this section, you should be able to discuss the following concepts:
- Emergent coding
- Inter-rater reliability
- Naturalistic vs lab observations
- Overt vs covert observations
- Participant vs non-participant observations
What is a naturalistic observation?
Start by watching the following video.
Now that you know what a naturalistic observation is, here are two other characteristics for you to think about.
- The observer collects data from participants’ in their natural environments without any deliberate manipulation of the setting
- The researcher may record qualitative ‘field notes’, describing behaviours of interest while diagrams and sketches may also be used. Video may be used, but this is difficult in a covert observation as it may raise the suspicion of people being observed.
- In a covert observation, participants are unaware of the observer and according to the BPS this is ethical if the study takes place in a public setting; data collected will be more credible as behaviour will be less inhibited and unaffected by demand characteristics or evaluation apprehension.
- In an overt naturalistic observation, participants give consent to being observed. Although the environment is not manipulated by the researcher, demand characteristics, or "reactivity" may affect the participants' behaviour.
- In a participant observation the researcher becomes actively involved within the community or group that he or she is studying; this facilitates a unique perspective that would not have been otherwise possible. A concern of participant observations is that they may be open to researcher bias.
- In a non-participant observation, the researcher remains separate from the activities of the group and does not interact with participants while conducting the observation; this lack of involvement means that the researcher is free to focus entirely on the data collection, arguably leading to a more accurate record of events.
Task 1. Thinking about research
Watch the following video - The Birth of a Word.
After watching the video, The Birth of a Word, write a paragraph in which you describe the study to a friend. Be sure to identify this as a lab or naturalistic observation; overt or covert; participant or non-participant. Explain at least one strength and one limitation of the study.
What to do with data?
There are two ways that researchers can interpret the data that they collect during an observation.
First, there is a priori coding. This means that the researchers decide what they will look for before they begin their observations. This leads to a checklist used by researchers to measure the frequency of certain behaviours. This is a quantitative approach to naturalistic observations. It is also a deductive approach to research.
Then there is emergent coding. This means that researchers carry out their observations taking notes on everything that they see that is related to the question that they are investigating. After all the field notes are collected, researcher read through the notes looking for trends. The trends that emerge from the notes lead researchers to draw conclusions or pose hypotheses about the behaviour. This is a qualitative approach to naturalistic observations. It is also an inductive approach to research.
- Naturalistic observations have high ecological validity. The collection of data takes place in the participants' natural environment and it is assumed that the participants behave as they usually do, in contrast to research in laboratories. This, of course, means that internal validity is low.
- They can be used to collect data in cases where it would be impossible or unethical to do so otherwise—for example, research on people with Alzheimer’s disease.
- There is the risk that people do react to being observed - that is, there may be reactivity involved.
- If the researcher collects the data alone, there may be problems in checking the data. However, multiple observers in the same field can compare data to ensure a match of the data (sometimes called inter-observer reliability). The researcher can also document the fieldwork extensively and explain how he or she arrived at the conclusions reached, in order to promote credibility.
- There are ethical considerations concerning the appropriateness of observing strangers without their knowledge. The researcher should always be careful not to violate the privacy of the participants.
- Naturalistic observations tell us what people do, but not why they do it.
Checking for understanding
Try to answer each of the following questions to the best of your ability before clicking on the "eye" to see the correct response.
1. Define participant observation. What is one advantage of this method? One disadvantage?
2. Discuss how two different participant effects may overly influence an observation.
3. What is a naturalistic observation? Explain one strength and one limitation of carrying out a naturalistic observation rather than a controlled observation.
4. What are the advantages of a non-participant observation?
5. What is a covert observation? When would this technique most likely be used? What are some of the limitations of this technique?
6. Discuss three things that a researcher might do to prepare to carry out an observation.
7. What is meant by inter-coder or inter-rater reliability?
Continue on to Interviews: Unstructured, semi-structured, and focus groups.
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn