Naturalistic Observation

Naturalistic Observation is the study of behavior in a patient’s environment. This commonly includes factors like behavior, such as aggression or smiles. Though this is conventional when you hear the word ‘therapist’, it carries plenty of advantages, as well as disadvantages.

Advantages: Ones behavior is naturally occurring and isn’t influenced by the experimenter. It can provide more qualitative information as opposed to merely quantitative information.

Disadvantages: Like a child being watched by one of higher authority, someone who’s being observed by a researcher may alter their behavior. Researcher’s beliefs can also alter their observations or results. It is also very difficult to coordinate multiple observers because behaviors must