Naturalistic research involves observing human behavior and interactions as they occur in natural real-world contexts, without manipulating the phenomenon of interest. It assumes phenomena should be studied in their natural context. Researchers observe and collect qualitative data using techniques like direct observation, interviews, and archival records. They must select research sites and participants purposively and gain access to settings in a role like participant-observer. Validity relies on triangulation while reliability is difficult given the subjective nature of naturalistic research. Findings are typically reported through narrative descriptions, quotes and examples.

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Naturalistic research
by:
I.Gusti Ayu Lokita P.U.
A.A. Yudha Martin

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Qualitative
research
approaches
Interpretive approach:
how people make sense
about the world
naturalistic approach:
social studies in natural
context

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What is naturalistic
research?
• Research designs which describe and
measure the behavior of people as it
occurs in their everyday lives. (Frey,
Botan and Kreps, 1999)
• Research designs are naturalistic to the
extent that the research takes place in
real-world settings and the researcher
does not attempt to manipulate the
phenomenon of interest

4. Naturalistic Research Chart
What kind of data are you going to
obtain?
Audio-Visual Records Records of public behavior
Observational Research
Is the data single case?
Yes
Case Studies
No
Do participants know the observation?
Yes
Acknowledged Ps
Research
No
Unacknowledged Ps
Research
Archival Research

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Assumptions of Naturalistic
research
(Frey, Botan and Kreps, 1999)
1. Naturalism: The belief that phenomena
should be studied in context.
2. Phenomenology: The belief that the
object of interest be examined without
any preconceived notions or
expectations.
3. Interpretive nature: The belief that the
researcher, while trying to see the
situation from the point of view of
those studied, cannot escape his/her
own view.

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characteristics
1. Site: Studying phenomena in context, or
in situ.
2. Embodied practice: Researchers place
their bodies in a context and use
themselves as the primary “instrument” to
collect data.
3. Qualitative methods: An array of
interpretive techniques which seek to
describe, decode, translate, and come to
terms with the meaning of naturally
occurring phenomena.

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Investigation strategies
• Direct observation: the researcher is
the main instrument
• In-dept interview: use an unstructured
format consisting of open-ended
questions in places and under
conditions that are comfortable for and
familiar to them

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Role of observer
• Complete participant: Fully involved in a
social setting and does not let people know
they are being studied; “going native;”
(consider ethical dilemmas).
• Participant-observer: Involved as fully as
possible in a social situation where people
know they are being studied; agenda is
revealed.
• Observer-participant: Primarily observes
and participates only to a limited extent;
marginal member of the group.
• Complete observer: Does not interact with
the group, strictly an observer; greatest
objectivity.

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How to select subject
• Purposively selecting subject that we
believe may help us yield the data we
need
• Snowball/chain referral  asking the
subjects to nominate another person with
the same trait as the next subject. The
researcher then observes the nominated
subjects and continues in the same way
until the obtaining sufficient number of
subjects.
• Convenience Subjects are selected
because of their convenient accessibility
and proximity to the researcher

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Principles of Site-
selection
1. Select a site so that the issue can be
seen in a reasonably clear fashion
2. Select a site that is comparable to
others or that have been studied by
other researchers, but not the one that
is over-studied
3. Select a site in which the research will
not come to be seen as a burden on the
local population, the researcher may
accept the local routines and norms

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Necessary research
skills
• language facility (the ability to pick up
on nuances of expression, keeping in
mind that people communicate through
gestures, body language, and the use
of space in addition to what they say in
words)
• explicit awareness (the ability to
perceive the mundane details that
most people filter out of their routine
observations)

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Necessary research
skills (cont..)
• good memory (because it is not always
possible to record observations on the
spot)
• cultivated naiveté (i.e., never being
afraid to ask the obvious question)
• writing facility (because in the last
analysis, most observational data will
only be useful when placed in some
sort of narrative context)
• Interpersonal skills

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How researcher
position himself
• Researcher is the main instrument in
naturalistic research, therefore, he
should know how to position himself
within his research.
• He should draw his defining line of
comfort zone and whether he can deal
with crossing the line for research
purpose.

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How to take a note
Every note should be headed by the
date, place, and time of observation
As many verbatim verbal exchanges as
possible should be recorded
Pseudonyms or other codes should be
used to identify participants in order to
preserve anonymity and confidentiality.
Events should be recorded in sequence
Basic notes should be free of inferences
and interpretations

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validity
the degree to which research findings
somehow match up with reality
• Method triangulation
• Work in team (several researchers)
• A visual recording (video)

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reliability
the degree to which there is consistency
in the research process regardless of
who is doing the research.
It is impossible to eliminate personal
variation or opinion
It is certainly true that systematizing
observations and repeating them with
care over a period of time will help
convince skeptics of the reliability of
the findings but it is not natural

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Reporting naturalistic
research
• Telling a tale
• Writing report:
Thematic
Chronological
Puzzle-Explication
Exemplars: Quotes and descriptions that
help illustrate and crystallize the
concept.
• Performance, film, photography

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example
• Communication Strategies Used by
High School English Language
Learners in Multilingual Classrooms
(Spromberg, 2011)

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• Data collection:25 English language
learners are observed in their
classroom in a New York city public
school . All observation are video-
recorded and done by the researcher
• Data analysis: the transcripts are
identified by Dornyei and scott’s
communication strategies taxonomy

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• Finding: communication strategies
used are asking for clarification, self-
rephrasing, miming, and other-repair
• Overall, communication strategies are
used among multicultural students to
negotiate meaning to have mutually
comprehensible message

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conclusion
• Naturalistic researchers must identify
and gain entry to the site they want to
study, determine the role they will take,
what and how they will observe, who
they will interview and what they will
ask and how to record the information
and present it.

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references
• Frey, L., Botan, C., & Kreps, G. (1999).
Investigating communication: An
introduction to research methods. (2nd
ed.) Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
• Spromberg,S.2011. Communication
Strategies Used by High School
English Language Learners in
Multilingual Classrooms.Thesis. New
york: Hunter College