6.2 Naturalistic Observation

Question 0

In a ____ ____ study, the researcher makes observations of individuals in their natural environments (the field).

Answer 0

naturalistic observation

Question 1

Naturalistic observation is sometimes called ____ or simply field observation.

Answer 1

fieldwork

Question 2

The goal of naturalistic observation is to provide a complete and accurate picture of what occurred in the ____, rather than to test hypotheses formed prior to the study.

Answer 2

setting

Question 3

The researcher must keep detailed ____ ____.

Answer 3

field notes

Question 4

Field researchers rely on a variety of techniques to gather ____, depending on the particular setting.

Answer 4

information

Question 5

In addition to taking detailed fieldnotes, researchers conducting naturalistic observation usually use ____ or ____ recordings.

Answer 5

audio or video

Question 6

The researchers first goal is to ____ the settings, events, and persons observed

Answer 6

describe

Question 7

The second, equally important goal is to ____ what is observed.

Answer 7

analyse

Question 8

The researcher must interpret what occurred, essentially gathering hypotheses that help ____ the data and make them ____.

Answer 8

explain / understandable

Question 9

Such an analysis is done by building a ____ ____ to describe the observations

Answer 9

coherent structure

Question 10

The final ____, although sensitive to the chronological order of events, is usually organised around the structure developed by the researcher.

Answer 10

report

Question 11

Specific examples of events that occurred during observation are used to ____ the researchers interpretations.

Answer 11

support

Question 12

A good naturalistic observation report will support the analysis by using multiple ____.

Answer 12

confirmations

Question 13

The data in naturalistic observation studies are primarily ____ in nature.

Answer 13

qualitative

Question 14

Two related issues facing the researcher are weather to be a ____ or ____ in the social setting and whether to ____ his or her purposes from the other people in the setting.

Answer 14

participant or nonparticipant

conceal

Question 15

A ____ observer is an outsider who does not become an active part of the setting.

Answer 15

non-participant

Question 16

A ____ observer assumes an active, insider role.

Answer 16

participant

Question 17

Because participant observation allows the researcher to observe the setting from the ____, he maybe able to experience events in the same way as the natural participants.

Answer 17

inside

Question 18

A potential problem with participant observation, however, is that the observer may lose the ____ necessary to conduct scientific observation.

Answer 18

objectivity

Question 19

____ observation may be preferable because the presence of the observer make influence and alter the behaviour of those being observed.

Answer 19

Concealed

Question 20

Concealed observation is less ____ than non-concealed observation because people are not aware that their behaviours are being observed and recorded.

Answer 20

reactive

Question 21

Non-concealed observation maybe preferable from an ____ viewpoint.

Answer 21

ethical

Question 22

The decision of whether to conceal one’s purpose or presence depends on both ethical concerns and the ____ of the particular group and setting being studied.

Answer 22

nature

Question 23

Researchers who use naturalistic observation to study behaviour must carefully determine what their ____ in the setting will be.

Answer 23

role

Question 24

The naturalistic observation approach is most useful when investigating complex social settings both to understand the settings and to develop ____ based on the observations.

Answer 24

theories

Question 25

Limitation: Field research is difficult to do, is because ____ ____ cannot always be scheduled at a convenient time and place.

Answer 25

data collection

Question 26

Limitation: because things ____ all the time the researcher must record everything and remain flexible in order to adjust to them as research progresses.

Answer 26

change

Question 27

Limitation: The process of ____ that follows the completion of research is not simple.

Answer 27

analysis

Question 28

Although naturalistic observation research is a difficult and challenging scientific procedure, it yields ____ ____ when done well.

Answer 28

invaluable knowledge