1. Assignment: People Watching: Naturalistic Observation in Research
Description
This video shows different scenes for about 15 minutes. You will take notes on what you observe. Write down some questions that form in your mind as you observe people’s choices in behavior.
You have now read that this type of research is called naturalistic observation. The goal of naturalistic observation is to watch a naturally occurring behavior and not influence it in any way. You will compare this method with another research method as a way to explore multiple ways you can answer a research question.
You are NOT conducting an actual naturalistic observation study, you are just thinking of ways you can use this research method to answer the questions that formed in your mind.
Directions
Take notes about the things that you find interesting about what people are doing. See what questions formulate in your mind (who, what, when, where, why, how).
Choose one of the questions you formulated that you would really like to answer in a research study. Write down what information you would need to answer the question you formulated. There is no need to find the answers, just write what info you’d need to answer the question.
Part 1: What question were you trying to answer? (For example, if I observed children going to McDonald’s at the food court and ordering chicken nuggets perhaps I might wonder why some kids play with their happy meal toy and others did not.)
Part 2: Discuss how you could answer your question with a naturalistic observation study if you were actually going to do one. (For example, if I had a question about girls and their physical aggression, perhaps I would have a team of people observe girls playing on 3 different playgrounds and record how many times they were physically aggressive with each other)
Part 3: What are the drawbacks of using naturalistic observation to answer this question? What pertinent information will you not be able to gather by just observing?
Part 4: Name another research method you could use to answer this same question and describe how that study would be structured. Explain how this research method may be better or could get you closer to finding the “answers” to your research questions.
2. Comment: Torture in Research?
Discussion Topic: The APA Solves Their Ethical Dilemma
In August of 2015, the APA voted at their annual convention to bar psychologist involvement in interrogations. The APA is now on the side of international law and is not allowed to work at Guantanamo, CIA Black Sites or anything else that would be considered illegal under the Geneva convention or the United Nations convention. Psychologists are only allowed to work in cases involving torture when they are on the side of the person being detained and tortured.
Below you can watch actual footage of the APA annual convention where the vote took place. You’ll see comments made before the actual vote is taken and the results of the vote. (The video will automatically begin at 10:46 and you can stop watching at 18:00 or you can continue watching beyond the 18:00 mark to learn even more through the interview done with the co-founder of the Coalition for Ethical Psychology.)
https://www.democracynow.org/2015/8/10/no_more_torture_world_s_largest
“No More Torture: World’s Largest Group of Psychologists Bans Role in National Security Interrogations” by Democracy Nowis licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Initial Discussion Post:
This is time to reflect on the deep importance of ethics in the work that psychologists do. Share your thoughts and reactions to watching the APA’s vote to psychologist involvement in interrogations. Did any of the comments made before the vote impact you in any way? How do you feel now knowing that this vote passed? Are there any questions you still have?
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