Question

Professor Carter observes and records the behavior of grocery shoppers as they select items to purchase. Which type of research is Professor Carter using?

Answer 1

Answer: Naturalistic Observation

Explanation: Naturalistic Observation involves the study of a subject in their natural environment. The purpose of this study is to understand how the subject interacts with their environment naturally without the conditions of a laboratory. Another factor which may make this kind of study attractive is a limited budget.

For example, in Professor Carter's study, recreating a supermarket in a laboratory will not only be expensive but may also influence the subjects' choice of groceries and affect the result of the study.