Observational Studies and Coding in Naturalistic Research ✓ Solved

In Chapter 7, you read about naturalistic research methods. This type of research is designed to help the researcher understand behavior in the setting in which it occurs naturally, rather than in a laboratory or other controlled setting. Naturalistic research is appealing because it simulates reality. However, it is challenging because the researcher has limited control over the participants and the settings. Observational research is one of the common types of naturalistic designs.

As a researcher, you might hide your identity and blend in with the natural environment. In this case, you would be an unacknowledged observer in the study. When appropriate, you also may let participants know, usually after you have conducted your observations, about the study and reveal your identity. In this case, you would be an acknowledged observer in the study. In both cases, it is a challenge to measure and record the behavior you are studying because the participants are usually moving constantly, and/or are scattered about, thus making it difficult to record every behavioral occurrence under observation.

Since you are observing behavior and not using surveys or other means to collect data from your participants, you need to clearly identify the behavior you are studying and use a coding sheet to track the observed behavior. In this Discussion, you develop an idea for a hypothetical observational study and create a coding sheet you could use to record your observations.

To prepare: Choose a setting where you would enjoy observing behavior. It might be someplace you go every day (like the grocery store) or it might be a place you would like to go (such as a city park). Create a coding form for a hypothetical observational study of the setting you selected. Note: This is a hypothetical study. You are creating a coding form but not conducting the actual observation study (because you would need to obtain IRB approval first). Prepare to upload your coding form as an attachment (in .doc or .rtf format) to your posting.

With these thoughts in mind: Post by Day 3: 1. The topic of your hypothetical observational study. This should also be in the “Subject” field of your post this week (e.g., Child Playground Behavior). 2. In the main body of your post, provide background information on your hypothetical observational study, including the setting, why you are interested in this study, and what you hope to learn. 3. Explain whether you would be an acknowledged or unacknowledged observer and why. 4. Describe the types of behavior and the episodes you included on your coding form. 5. Upload the coding form you created as an attached document (.doc or .rtf format).

Note: Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings. Respond by Day 6 to at least one of your colleagues’ initial Discussion assignment postings. Critique the content in their coding sheet. Offer suggestions for modifications in the coding sheet and justify. Note: You are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleague's postings.

Resources to use: Stangor, C. (2015). Research methods for the behavioral sciences (5th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. Chapter 7, “Naturalistic Methods” Chapter 14, “Quasi-Experimental Research Designs.”

Paper For Above Instructions

Title: Observational Study of Behavior in a City Park

Background Information: For my hypothetical observational study, I have chosen to observe behavior in a city park. The park is a vibrant and dynamic environment filled with diverse groups of people engaging in various activities such as playing sports, walking pets, and enjoying nature. I am particularly interested in this setting as it offers a unique opportunity to observe social interactions, physical activities, and emotional expressions in a natural setting. Through this study, I hope to learn how different factors, such as age, group dynamics, and environmental aspects, influence behavior in public spaces.

Observer Role: I would choose to be an unacknowledged observer in this study to minimize any potential influence my presence might have on participants' behavior. Being unobtrusive allows for a more authentic observation of behaviors as individuals interact naturally without any awareness of being observed.

Types of Behavior and Coding Form: The behaviors I will include in my coding form will capture a range of activities in the park. I will observe interactions among groups of people, individual activities, and specific behaviors such as communication styles, physical engagement in sports, and time spent in various areas of the park. My coding sheet will categorize behaviors into several episodes, including:

• Social Interaction: Verbal communication, non-verbal communication, group formation.
• Physical Activities: Types of sports played, level of engagement, cooperative vs. solitary play.
• Observation of the Environment: Interaction with park amenities, such as play structures and benches.

The coding form will have columns for behavior types, frequency counts, duration of activities, and notes for qualitative observations. Each behavior will be clearly defined for consistency in data collection.

Conclusion: This observational study's design is tailored to provide insights into public behavior in a natural park setting. By utilizing a coding sheet, I can systematically track various behaviors while maintaining the authenticity of the observed interactions. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of how individuals and groups behave in communal spaces without the bias introduced by observation awareness.

References

• Stangor, C. (2015). Research methods for the behavioral sciences (5th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
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