Why do researchers try to avoid being detected by their participants when engaged in naturalistic observations?
A)The researchers themselves could be considered a dependent variable that affects the results of the study.
B)Naturally occurring behavior patterns might not occur if the participants become aware that they are being observed.
C)It is unethical to conduct naturalistic observation if the participants know that they are being observed.
D)Participants may continue to act naturally with the researchers, but the researchers may not act like researchers once they begin to interact with the participants.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When participants know they are being observed, they may alter their behavior or act in a way that they believe is expected of them, rather than acting naturally. This could lead to inaccurate or biased data. Therefore, researchers attempt to avoid detection by their participants in order to obtain more valid and reliable observations.

Why Do Researchers Try to Avoid Being Detected by Their