What is the method called when a researcher observes the actions or words of participants directly?

The method referred to in the question is known as observation. This research technique involves the direct monitoring of subjects within their natural environment, allowing researchers to collect data on behaviors, interactions, and language in real-time.

Observation is particularly valuable because it provides an unfiltered view of participants' actions and words, capturing nuances that other methods, such as surveys or experiments, might miss. It allows researchers to gather qualitative data that can lead to deeper insights into social interactions and patterns within communities or families.

While experimentation involves manipulating variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships, and surveying collects self-reported data through questionnaires, observation provides a firsthand account of participants' behaviors. Participation, on the other hand, entails actively engaging in the environment being studied, which may influence the behavior of participants and could lead to biased results. Thus, observation stands out as a method focusing purely on the direct collection of data without interference.