Identify a specific human behavior you want to study through naturalistic observation
Week 7 Assignment 1: Develop an Observation Protocol
Identify a specific human behavior you want to study through naturalistic observation, the purpose for doing so, and how study results might be used by whom. The following criteria apply:
The behavior must be observable in a public setting.
The observer must not interact with anyone being observed.
The observer must not cause or affect the observed behavior in any way.
No video or audio recording of observed individuals must take place.
The observer must not attract any attention to him or herself.
Examples of acceptable observations:
People standing in line to a tourist attraction for the purpose of identifying different types of queueing behaviors or queueing personalities, as well as wait times. Results could be used by the tourist attraction to develop appropriate distractions or activities that keep people entertained while waiting.
Activities undertaken by people riding the bus or subway with the purpose of identifying frequency of various of activities (reading book, looking at phone, talking, etc.). Results could be used by companies who buy advertising space inside busses or trains.
People using self-service check-in kiosks at the airport with the purpose of identifying problems travelers encounter, the time it takes to check in, and how many people need employee assistance. Results could be used by airlines to improve the design of the kiosks and staff the check-in area.
People eating in a restaurant with the purpose of identifying who uses their phones while waiting for food and after receiving food, and how quickly people use their phones after sitting down (measured in seconds or minutes), and what the observable effects are on their dinner companions. Results could be used by generational researchers to understand the prevalence cell phone usage versus face to face conversations among various demographics of users.
Obtain approval for your observational idea from your instructor, no later than Thursday in Week 7.
Develop an observation protocol that you can use for data collection and notetaking while conducting the observation. The protocol should reflect the purpose of the observation and the various categories of behaviors you want to identify. Each category should be clearly defined in the protocol. Attach an explanation of the observation protocol and reflect on the development process and your design considerations. Discuss how your observation protocol meets best practices in naturalistic observation research and how you plan to minimize unintended personal bias.
Length: 2-3 pages, not including the observation protocol, title page, and references
Support your paper with at least three scholarly resources. In addition to these specified resources, other appropriate scholarly resources, including older articles, may be included.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards.
Week 7 Assignment 2: Conduct a Mini-Observation Study and Summarize Findings
Instructions
Building on the previous assignment, conduct your study in the chosen setting and record your observations using the protocol you developed. Be sure to complete a sufficient number of observations to draw meaningful conclusions. The exact duration and number of needed observations will depend on your stated purpose.
Upon completion of your study, write a paper in which you report your findings and reflect on the observation process. Specifically, you should discuss how your recorded data addressed the purpose of the study. What did you learn about the behavior you were observing? Were there any surprises or new discoveries? Which social science theories might help explain the behaviors you observed? How could you have improved the observation process and your recording method? What recommendations do you have for further research into your chosen behavioral area in terms of research method, focus of the inquiry, and theoretical aspects?
Length: 5-7 pages, not including the title page, and references. Attach your observation notes as an appendix.
Support your paper with at least five scholarly resources. In addition to these specified resources, other appropriate scholarly resources, including older articles, may be included.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards.
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