The naturalistic observation is a type of study classified under the broader catagory of field studies; nonexperimental approaches used in the field or in real-life settings. In the naturalistic observation method the researcher very carefully observes and records some behavior or phenomenon, sometimes over a prolonged period, in its natural setting.

The subjects or phenomena are not directly interfered with in any way. In the social sciences this usually involves observing humans or animals as thay go about their activities in real life settings. In the natural sciences this may involve observing an animal or groups of animals or some physical phenomena, such as the eruption of a volcano.