What characterizes a field study?

A field study is characterized by its conduct in a perceived natural environment, where researchers observe and measure behaviors or events in real-world settings as opposed to controlled laboratory conditions. This approach allows researchers to gather data in a more organic context, capturing the complexities and nuances of real-life situations.

In a field study, the environment is not manipulated or controlled in the same way it would be in a laboratory setting, which means that the behaviors or phenomena observed are more representative of typical life outside experimental conditions. This results in findings that can offer greater ecological validity, meaning the results are more likely to generalize to everyday scenarios.

In contrast, other approaches, such as those conducted in controlled laboratory environments, aim to minimize external variables and provide a controlled context where researchers can manipulate specific factors. However, this can sometimes limit the natural behavior that might be observed in the field. Thus, option C rightly describes the characteristic nature of a field study.