Naturalistic Observation Research

The common research method of naturalistic observation involves watching children in their natural environment. There are two types of naturalistic observation methods, structured and unstructured. I choose to do the unstructured because; “An unstructured observation involves writing everything down as it happened, usually through a diary method or digital recording” (The Importance of Naturalistic Observations in Psychology, 2011, para. 2). Being able to observe a child in their natural environment to see how the move, interact with others, and overall behavior is important when trying to know how the child is developing. As it states in the book Child Development by Laura E. Berk, one of the strengths of using the naturalistic method
of observation is it; “Reflects participants’ everyday behaviors” (Berk, 2013, p. 43). It a tool to see if that child fulfilling all the developmental milestones at the proper growing stages. If that child is having difficulties, then you can see where those areas are and be able to get the child help it may need. I was able to observe a girl, H.S., in a non-profit NAEYC accredited child care center. Her birthday is on August 19th, 2014. She is in an age group older than what I normally work with and I have not worked with her since she is new to the center. In her classroom, there is 11 other children and 2-3 teachers. I observed H.S. during different times of the day, in short intervals, for the span of one week. I observed group time, free play, large muscle room, and playground.

Goal 1: To develop good feelings about self and others H.S.
is good about giving random people hugs. She came right up to me, a person she does not know, and said “Huggie?” holding out her open arms. She showed no signs of having stranger anxiety. She can receive hugs from friends but did not seek them out from her friends. She seems to only seek out hugs from adults. She wanted a lot of hugs from me and her teachers. She enjoyed playing with the baby dolls at free play. She was very caring in the way that she held and took care of the dolls. She would gently wrap the doll in a blanket and pretend to rock the doll to sleep in her arms. H.S. did not interact with her classmates. It seems that she did not even realize that they are around. She is in her own world. However, when a child asked her for a hug she was more than happy to give one. When a child fell down in front of her and started to cry, H.S. did not notice the child or that the child was crying. H.S. explores every area; classroom, playground, and large muscle room independently. I would say too independently. H.S. did not seem to focus on what is going on in her environment or around her. She is happy to do her own thing and did not seem bothered about what in going on in her
environment.

Goal 2: To develop cognitive abilities H.S. did not show that she knew how to problem-solve on her own. If there was a teacher that could walk her trough the problem then she did okay. When her shoe accidentally came off, she could not put it back on. She did not ask for help from her teachers. She just sat on the floor and cried. When her teachers tried to walk her through the steps, she got frustrated at first. Yet, with some calm and encouraging words from her teachers, she calmed down and was able to get her shoe on. She got her shoe on herself without much trouble.