AP PSYCHOLOGY

RESEARCH METHODS THINKING CRITICALLY WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND DESCRIPTION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Which of the following represents naturalistic observation?
A
Researchers watch and record how elementary school children interact on the playground
B
Researchers bring participants into a laboratory to see how they respond to a puzzle with no solution
C
A principal looks at the relationships between the number of students absence and their grades
D
Two grandparents sit in the front row to watch their grandson’s first piano recital
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Naturalistic observation in psychology is a nonexperimental method used in research that involves observing the phenomenon with the natural environment. The answer is “researchers watch and record how elementary school children interact on the playground".

Detailed explanation-2: -D. Explanation: Naturalistic observation entails recording data in a natural setting without manipulating any variable. Option D is the only option that meets these standards.

Detailed explanation-3: -Example: You join a classroom and study student behaviors without taking part in the activities yourself. It’s clear to your participants that you’re observing them. Importantly, all of these take place in naturalistic settings rather than experimental laboratory settings.

Detailed explanation-4: -As an example of naturalistic observation, the study of parent-child interaction may involve videotaping the parent and child in their home either as they go about their daily routine or as they perform an activity given to them by the researcher.

Detailed explanation-5: -naturalistic observation. A researcher uses a video camera to record children as they play on a school playground. The researcher plans to carefully watch the videotape to count the children’s helping behaviors.

There is 1 question to complete.