Observation

OVERVIEW
When conducting research in sociology much of the intention is to observe what is going on
around us and in our society. When a researcher is observing behavior, there are many possible
observational study examples. For this assignment, you will conduct an observational
only study. This study will be 100% achievable via observation only, with no interaction
between you and the participants.

INSTRUCTIONS
You will choose from one of the observations listed here for your sociological observation. If
you are deployed and unable to meet any of these requirements, please contact your instructor for
an alternative option for this assignment.

1. Spend a few hours observing children in a kindergarten or special day class and keep
track of how many can sit still and follow instructions. This can be charted, and your
paper can discuss the possibility of ADHD with children who are out of their chair,
moving about the room, and not following directions.

2. If you are interested in gender and the toys a young child might choose to play with, this
can be an interesting observation. Might small boys pick up a doll, or a little girl play
with a dump truck? Unless children are told specific toys are for boys and girls, you
might observe they enjoy playing with them. This observation can be completed by
observing a pre-school or kindergarten classroom or perhaps a day-care.

3. Spend a few hours at your local mall observing how many people you see who are glued
to their cell phones and rarely look up. Chart your findings and discuss the latest research
for distraction using cell phones. What might you observe? The mall is an interesting
place to observe age groupings. Might younger people be on their phones more, or
perhaps younger parents with children pay more attention to their phones? Also, you
might observe older individuals and couples. Chart if technology is used differently.

4. Staying with cell phones and computers / iPads, you might choose a coffee shop like
Starbucks. Observe and chart for discussion how many people come in alone, to meet
others, and see how many speak to one another without using their phones. This is
interesting in observing modern communication.

5. If you live near a resource center for new immigrants, you might wish to observe the
social interaction you see there. Are cultural differences evident in family or community
interactions? What are the similarities?
6. You might find observing the elderly at Walmart or church to see how they are treated
and respond to others. What might the attitudes be toward the elderly? Might you
recognize ageism?

7. Visit a local park or playground where parent(s) / caregivers are with young children and
observe if they put their phones away to play and bond with their children. What response
do you see from the children and parent? Sometimes parents are on their phone and you
might observe the child wanting their attention. There are some parents who visit among
themselves, and not play with their children. What might you observe?

8. You might find visiting a local gym interesting. Note the amount of cell phone use among
individuals working out. Does checking the phone diminish the work-out purpose? In
addition, note how many individuals stream music while working out or perhaps plug
into the music or television while they exercise at the equipment. Might there be a
difference between men and women vs. usage.

Submit a six-to-eight-page paper, which combined, will include: title page, body of assignment
with introduction, statement of problem, description of the observational investigation,
discussion, analysis, and findings, and a strong conclusion which will tie your paper together.
Be sure to include at least two primary resources within the last 5 to 7 years, with supportive
APA citation(s) which will match your reference page.

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