Question

A major limitation of naturalistic observation in the study of human behavior is that

Answer 1

Naturalistic observation has the primary limitation of little control over when and what behavior can be observed. This method provides high ecological validity but makes it challenging to establish cause and effect and requires significant time and resources.

Step-by-step explanation:

A major limitation of naturalistic observation in the study of human behavior is that researchers have very little control over events that can be observed. This lack of control includes when or if behaviors will occur, as subjects might change location or actions unpredictably. Additionally, because the settings and subjects are not being manipulated, the types of behavior that can be observed may not encompass the full range of human activities and interactions that the researcher is interested in. Furthermore, when individuals know they are being observed, there is a risk that they alter their behavior, which diminishes the ecological validity of the data.

Naturalistic observation provides an opportunity to collect valid data in realistic situations, enhancing the ability to generalize these findings to the real world. However, it does not allow for the establishment of cause and effect, and the comprehensive nature of this method often translates into significant time and financial investments. Careful consideration is required to balance the benefits of authenticity against these constraints.

Answer 2

A major limitation of naturalistic observation in the study of human behavior is that extraneous variables outside the researcher's control that might compromise the validity of the study.

A naturalistic observation study involves observing and studying participants' behavior in their natural setting, without manipulating any variables. While naturalistic observations have advantages such as avoiding social desirability bias and experimenter effects, its main disadvantage is that extraneous variables might lead to dependent variables, lowering the validity of the study.