Responses to questions about the study entitled the “Aping Expressions?” by Marina Davila Ross.
According to Carlson, N. (1993), naturalistic observation is a common research method that involves covertly or overtly watching subjects’ behaviors in their natural environment without intervention. There are several advantages of this type of research methodology. Firstly, naturalistic observation allows you to study topics that are unethical. In all studies, it is important to get at the depth in order to better understand the issue at hand. To do so, one cannot use rigid scientific methodology in a rigid central lab to better understand behavior. For example, it would be unethical to study the effects of incarceration of youths. By studying these subjects in their present settings one can use naturalistic observation in a real youth prison setting. Another advantage is to study respondents in their natural environment. People act in a more genuine and real way and show up their true feelings and emotions if they are aware that they are not part of a research. Thirdly, in a lot of instances, naturalistic observation can be used to revalidate results from previous experiments. When executed effectively, they can either confirm or refute existing hypothesis.
While the research techniques have its merit, they do suffer several limitations. …show more content…
Development and changes are done more rapidly at the earlier stages in animals than adults. As such, during this rapid stage, it is difficult to single out a common personality trait over a length of period. The first five years of a child, he/ she changes from no talking to talking, no perception to perceptualization (concrete operational). For this same five years in his/her latter life, changes might remain relatively stagnant. If one has to do a longitudinal study, these rapid changes in the life of a human or an animal might pose a threat to
According to Carlson, N. (1993), naturalistic observation is a common research method that involves covertly or overtly watching subjects’ behaviors in their natural environment without intervention. There are several advantages of this type of research methodology. Firstly, naturalistic observation allows you to study topics that are unethical. In all studies, it is important to get at the depth in order to better understand the issue at hand. To do so, one cannot use rigid scientific methodology in a rigid central lab to better understand behavior. For example, it would be unethical to study the effects of incarceration of youths. By studying these subjects in their present settings one can use naturalistic observation in a real youth prison setting. Another advantage is to study respondents in their natural environment. People act in a more genuine and real way and show up their true feelings and emotions if they are aware that they are not part of a research. Thirdly, in a lot of instances, naturalistic observation can be used to revalidate results from previous experiments. When executed effectively, they can either confirm or refute existing hypothesis.
While the research techniques have its merit, they do suffer several limitations. …show more content…
Development and changes are done more rapidly at the earlier stages in animals than adults. As such, during this rapid stage, it is difficult to single out a common personality trait over a length of period. The first five years of a child, he/ she changes from no talking to talking, no perception to perceptualization (concrete operational). For this same five years in his/her latter life, changes might remain relatively stagnant. If one has to do a longitudinal study, these rapid changes in the life of a human or an animal might pose a threat to