Naturalistic Observation

Abstract

Psychologists frequently conduct laboratory‐based studies that permit precise control of variables to which research participants are exposed. Such research often shows considerable internal validity because the investigators can identify the degree to which manipulated variables affect behavior and can rule out initially plausible extraneous variables as causes of behavior. However, the external validity of these studies is sometimes questionable because they may not show ecological validity; that is, the behaviors in the laboratory do not resemble those in the natural world. One alternative to laboratory experiments is naturalistic observation in which the researcher does not manipulate variables in the environment but instead observes behaviors as they naturally emerge.