What characterizes naturalistic observational studies?

Naturalistic observational studies are primarily characterized by the fact that participants are observed in their natural environments without any interference or manipulation by the researcher. This approach allows researchers to gain insights into behaviors as they occur in real-world contexts, leading to data that reflect genuine interactions and situations. The commitment to not interfering means that the findings can often capture more authentic behaviors, providing valuable qualitative data.

The other characteristics listed do not apply to naturalistic observational studies. These studies specifically reject artificial settings; they aim to observe behaviors as they naturally happen. High replication rates and a focus on controlled variables are more aligned with experimental designs, where researchers manipulate variables under controlled conditions to draw causal inferences, which is contrary to the nature of naturalistic studies.