Final answer:
Marcus, as a naturalistic observer, would be interested in investigating behavioral patterns in natural settings. The benefit of these studies is the honest and realistic data they provide due to the non-interference in the subject's environment. Such studies have been significantly beneficial in learning about animal behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marcus, who specializes in conducting naturalistic studies, is most likely to investigate questions related to behavior in natural settings. For instance, he might be interested in research questions such as: What are the typical interactions in a certain animal species within their natural habitat? Or, how do children behave in a playground setting compared to a formal school setting?
The benefit of naturalistic observation studies lies in the honest data collected from these realistic settings, providing a high degree of ecological validity. This type of research allows Marcus to observe behavior patterns unobtrusively, maintaining the subject's natural environment, thus reducing the risk of influencing the behavior. It doesn't manipulate variables or set up artificial situations, hence closely related to actual experiences.
A renowned example in naturalistic studies was by Jane Goodall, who conducted observations on chimpanzees in their natural environment for decades. Her work showcases how valuable naturalistic observation can be in uncovering deep insights about behavior.
Learn more about Naturalistic Studies