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Use of Publicly Available Webcams in Naturalistic Observation Studies Virginia Bedford Abstract    We consider the use of publicly available webcams for performing naturalistic observation studies. As a point for discussion of related issues, we use a publicly available webcam as a tool for performing a naturalistic observation study to consider behavior of human subjects waiting to be served in a government office setting. We examine snapshots to assess participant characteristics. We develop operational definitions, measure arrival and departure times, and hypothesize preferred service periods. We consider various characteristics of the webcam as used in this application, compare and contrast it with other natural observation techniques and point out ethical issues of using these in scientific research. Introduction    Webcams have unique characteristics that can make them more effective than human observers in gathering data in some situations, and allow for gathering digital data in some contexts where human observation would be impossible. Some of these characteristics are limitations in naturalistic observations. But as with any tool, applying the tool to the kinds of problems for which it is best suited, is the challenge. This paper attempts to identify some of the strengths and weaknesses of this research tool and considers some of the social implications of the webcam's ubiquity and invisibility. Methods    Web images were collected every five minutes of the State of Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles waiting room at the Benson Boulevard site in Anchorage Alaska, corresponding to the update frequency of the web cam. Arrival and departure of customers was manually coded and analyzed. Results    Subject counts appeared to follow distribution that may correlate with time of day, or day of week, but data was inadequate for statistical significance. Privacy    Customers were likely unaware that they were visible without limit over the internet, as were their children, and that they were being used as subjects for a naturalistic observational study. Confusion between webcams and closed circuit cameras in public places may lead people to accept webcams due to incorrect perception that the cameras are being used for purposes of protection. References    Camera: https://www.state.ak.us/dmv/DMVwebcams.htm Project Paper (PDF)