There are multiple approaches to exploring the world and the relationships between its components. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, while a certain research method suits only certain situations and is unsuitable for others. It is possible to combine naturalistic and laboratory approaches to the observation method with their pros and cons and use samples and variables to obtain more accurate results.
When a study is conducted, researchers do not explore the population but only its subset, called a sample. It is used to collect the basic data for analysis and weighting. For example, Andrews et al.’s (2018) article explore a certain amount of DNA samples, not samples obtained from all people in the world. Samples are preferred when conducting research as they are manageable, cost-effective, and convenient. For instance, when it is needed to analyze songs from the Eurovision Song Contest, it is better to get the ones that won before as a sample and analyze them. However, the population should also understand that sample does not reflect the whole picture of what researchers are exploring.
Any research starts from picking a sample, and one of the main types of it is the observation method that each person can use as it is a part of human social life. In some cases, it is one of the most profitable approaches. For example, it is easy to get wrong results by using the laboratory method because people act in different ways in extreme situations than they think. Therefore, the observation approach can be used in research projects and give interesting results (Ciesielska et al., 2017). It is represented with two techniques: direct and indirect. Direct technique is observing something in real life, such as watching how classmates behave in classes and after and making conclusions. The meaning of the indirect method is the same, but the object is another. A researcher relies on other observations by using the recording of past events (Ciesielska et al., 2017). However, this approach has to be combined with others to get more exact results.
The naturalistic approach can be applied when doing psychological studies. It divides the world into materialistic and idealistic parts and explains any process resulting from evolution (Singer, 2019). Therefore, issues such as consciousness problems can be represented as a result of cognitive constructs that a natural approach can explain. However, this setting is powerless when it comes to unusual heroic actions, as people go against biological patterns. In this case, it is important to use the laboratory approach because it describes things from the physical aspect, i. e. by using physics. A process or an item is determined by an “experiment under controlled conditions” (Carter, 1945, p. 234). Laboratory approaches are good when exploring something related to chemistry, neurobiology, physics, et cetera.
Correlation analysis becomes the irreplaceable helper of each research as by using correlation measures, researchers can show a certain process with numbers that add accuracy. For instance, authors can set the n variable to show the amount of male and female students. In addition, variables can be dependent and independent. Independent ones are standalone and are not influenced by anything (Glossary, n. d.). For example, the liquid that people use to water plants cannot be changed, but the condition of plants depends on the liquid.
Naturalistic and laboratory methods suit different cases but are good when combined. Additionally, setting samples and entering variables by using correlation analysis helps make the research more accurate. While the observation method is empirical, the naturalistic approach explains everything promising dualistic imaginations about the world. The sense of a laboratory setting is describing things by using knowledge accumulated in physics. Dependent and independent variables form a scientific basis in the study when samples help make it more cost-effective.
References
Andrews, K. R., De Barba M., Russello M. A., Waits L. P. (2018) Advances in using non-invasive, archival, and environmental samples for population genomic studies. In Hohenlohe P.A. & O. P. Rajora (Eds.) Population Genomics: Wildlife. (pp. 63-99). Web.
Carter, V. G. (Ed.). (1945). Dictionary of Education. McGraw Hill Book Company. Glossary. (n.d.). Web.
Singer, W. (2019). A naturalistic approach to the hard problem of consciousness. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 13(58), 1-9. Web.
Ciesielska, M., Boström, K. W., & Magnus, Ö. (2017). Observation methods. Quantitive Methodologies in Organization Studies. (pp. 33-52). Web.