Читать книгу Abnormal Psychology - William J. Ray - Страница 115

If little is known about a particular phenomenon, it often is useful simply to watch the phenomenon occur naturally and get a general idea of what is involved in the process. Initially, this is accomplished by observing and describing what occurs. This scientific technique is called naturalistic observation. A classic example of this approach is Charles Darwin’s observation of animals in the Galápagos Islands. He carefully noted their appearance and environment. The observations formed the basis of his theory of evolution. Psychologists have used naturalistic observation techniques to study children and adults, as well as the interactions of those in a mental hospital. New technologies such as video or audio capture have allowed for even greater possibilities.

naturalistic observation: research method based on observing and describing the phenomenon occurring naturally, without manipulating any variables

Using a naturalistic observation study, Rachel Tomko and her colleagues (2012) collected data from individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other individuals with depression. These researchers wanted to better understand the social and emotional interactions of individuals with these disorders. As you will read in later chapters, individuals with BPD may show emotional instability such as an angry outburst. Those with depression do not. The researchers used a device that periodically recorded 50-second snippets of audio. What these researchers reported was that individuals with depression were more likely to spend time alone if they had previously been angry. Individuals with BPD did not display withdrawal from others after anger and at times showed the opposite.

The naturalistic observation method has four characteristics:

1 Noninterference is of prime importance. Scientists using this method must not disrupt the process or flow of events. In this way, they can see things as they really are, without influencing the ongoing phenomenon.

2 This method emphasizes the invariants or patterns that exist in the world. For example, if you could observe yourself in a noninterfering manner, you might conclude that your moods vary with the time of day, particular weather patterns, or even particular thoughts.

3 This method is most useful when we know little about the subject of our investigation. It is most useful for understanding the “big picture” by observing a series of events rather than isolated happenings.

4 The naturalistic method may not shed light on the factors that directly influence the behavior observed. The method provides a description of a phenomenon; it does not answer the question of why it happened.