What do you as the researcher hope to accomplish by completing this study?

Observation of Social Behavior
Conduct an observation of human social behavior in a public place (i.e., supermarket, church, nightclub) but not in a private area (i.e., bathroom, bedroom). Specific references should be made in the observation to principles discussed in class. These may include: altruism, attraction, conformity, gender, group influence, persuasion and/or prejudice.
Project Components
Introduction: The introductory paragraph of any paper, long or short, should start with a sentence that gets the reader interested in the paper. Start with a brief description of what the paper will be about. In a well-constructed first paragraph, that first sentence will lead into three or four sentences that provide details about main idea the paper. It should include a thesis statement, which is a one sentence summary of what the paper is about. The last sentence of this paragraph must also contain a transitional “hook” which moves the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper.
Abstracts: Locate five abstracts from social psychological literature relating to your observation. Introduce each and explain how the research helps form the research question for your observation. Use accurate in-text citation as appropriate. Attach the abstracts at the end of your paper – after the References section. It is acceptable to cut and paste the Abstract.
Goals: In this section, discuss the purpose of this observational study. Why is this study worth conducting? What do you as the researcher hope to accomplish by completing this study? Tie this study in with the abstracts that you are using as background for this study. List two to three goals for your observational study. You might want to view social behaviors between genders in certain contexts; examine social behaviors among ethnic/racial groups; or determine age related social behaviors in a group. Useful terms include investigate, discover, reveal, (one page).
Research question: Research question(s) are the hypotheses you form as you design your study. For this observation , you must have a specific question or set of questions that you are trying to answer. You might explore, for example, whether participants in your setting have any characteristic behaviors which are observable. In this section, state the question you are trying to answer. Your question must be detailed and specific. For example, are there distinguishable behaviors that lead a man to ask a woman to dance in a bar setting?; What are the specific behaviors of people who are paying attention in church?; Do older people influence the behavior of younger people?
Populations: Clearly and concisely describe the population to be observed. Are there specific typologies that can be formed based on the social behaviors observed? For example, “Cautious Carl” is the driver who has both hands on the wheel, drives no faster than the speed limit, and maintains a serious look on his face. “Smiling Samantha” is the woman who talks to all the people she passes in the supermarket aisle.
Setting: In this section, discuss the setting in which your observation will occur. Include sufficient detail so that it is clear how the setting might have affected behaviors discussed throughout the paper. The Introduction, Abstracts, Goals, Research Questions, Population and Setting are generally written before you conduct your observations. The rest of the paper is written after you have done the observation part of the study.
Observations: In this section, detail the behaviors which occurred during your observation. You should have between 1 to 3 sessions in your setting.
Results: In this section, state the results you observed related to your research question. Also, explain why you drew the conclusions you drew based on the behaviors. Include theories from social psychology that point to these results. Discuss the influence of your own experiences on your observation results.
References: In this section, list the references you quoted in your paper. Add a bibliography of books, articles, and Web sites that you recommend regarding your observations.
FORMATTING: Structure your paper utilizing APA style (7th Edition); this includes headings, double-spacing, appropriately sized sans serif or serif fonts (e.g., 12 Times Roman), one-inch margins (left, right, top, and bottom), page numbering, and logical flow from topic to topic. Include a title page and references page(s). Refer to APAStyle.com for sample of student papers.
Information and/or quotes from selected sources should be relevant and thoughtfully placed. Consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition, for proper form of in-text citations and references.
Grading Rubric for Observation of Social Behavior – Final Project – 50 points
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Introduction – well written and coherent summary of the paper to follow.
The introductory paragraph of any paper, long or short, should start with a sentence that gets the reader interested in the paper. Start with a brief description of what the paper will be about. In a well-constructed first paragraph, that first sentence will lead into three or four sentences that provide details about main idea the paper. It should include a thesis statement, which is a one sentence summary of what the paper is about. The last sentence of this paragraph must also contain a transitional “hook” which moves the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper.
Introduction omits important variables or is not well written in a cohesive manner.
Poorly written introduction that does not give a cohesive overview of the focus of this paper.
Lacking information that would give the reader an idea of the purpose of the paper.
Poorly written and lacking necessary information
Introduction omitted.
Abstracts – Review five abstracts from social psychology literature as they relate to the topic you have selected and how they connect to your study.
Five appropriate abstracts from social psychological literature; abstracts attached; expert explanation of how the research helps for the research question used in this paper.
Four to five appropriate abstracts from social psychological literature; abstracts attached; brief explanation of how the research helps form the research question.
Three to four appropriate abstracts from social psychological literature; abstracts attached; brief explanation of how the research helps form the research question.
Two to five abstracts; abstracts may be from sources other than social psychological literature; abstracts may be attached; plausible explanation of how the research helps form the research question.
One to five abstracts; abstracts may be from sources other than social psychological literature; abstracts may be attached; incomplete or inaccurate explanation of how the research helps form the research question.
Omitted Abstractions section or failed to integrate them into the rationale for choosing the abstracts for this paper.
Goals – This section of the paper discusses the purpose of this study. Why is it important to conduct this study?
At least three achievable, observable goals are stated clearly and precisely in behavioral terms. And a critical supporting explanation/logic is included.
Lacking one goal but all information is clear and concise along with supporting logic.
Lacking three goals and there is some vagueness about the goals or logic for choosing those goals.
Insufficient goals and lacking specific details or logic.
Lack of clarity about goals or logic for choosing them.
Goals section omitted.
Research Questions – stated as hypothesis. What prediction are you making that you will see?
Effectively defines the scope of the research; clearly states a specific question or set of questions to be answered
Defines scope of the research; provides surface-level supporting statement introducing a specific question or set of questions to be answered.
Addresses the scope of the research; provides a brief statement introducing a specific question or set of questions to be answer, but statements lack details.
Research question is not clearly stated but may be extrapolated from the general direction of the paper.
Research question is not clearly stated but may be extrapolated from the general direction of the paper.
Research question omitted.
Population – Describe population to be observed. Be specific and descriptive.
Effectively and appropriately describes the population to be observed; information is considered critically, stated clearly and described comprehensibly.
Defines and appropriately describes the population to be observed; information is considered critically, and omissions do not impact overall understanding of the population’s dynamics.
Addresses and describes the population to be observed; information is considered critically, but description leaves ambiguities unexplored, and/or key variables unknown.
Population may be described; information is considered critically but stated without clarification or description.
Population may be described but information is considered on the surface without critical analysis or clarification.
Failed to describe the population to be observed.
Setting – provide details of the environment in which you will be making observations.
Skillfully, with clarity, discusses the observation setting; includes sufficient detail to demonstrate how the setting might have affected behaviors discussed throughout the paper.
Straightforward discussion of the observation setting; includes sufficient detail to demonstrate how the setting might have affected behaviors discussed throughout the paper.
Generally describes the observation setting; details lack clarity; ambiguity fogs understanding of how the setting might have affected behaviors discussed throughout the paper.
Observation setting may be described; information is vague/limits understanding of how the setting might have affected behaviors discussed throughout the paper.
Setting may be described; information is vague/limits understanding of how the setting might have affected behaviors discussed throughout the paper.
Observation setting may be mentioned but not described. It is not clear how the setting might have affected behaviors discussed throughout the paper.
Omitted Setting section.
Observations – detailed appropriately and there’s a meaningful connection between behavior and research question.
Meaningfully details the behaviors observed and provides enough detail about the behaviors observed that the reader knows what is being observed and how it is measured.
Provides sufficient details about the behaviors observed but not completely meaningful.
Broadly details the behaviors observed; ambiguity possibly noted.
Addresses the behaviors observed but does not provide meaningful details.
Mentions behaviors were observed but does not provide meaningful details.
Omits the observations section.
Results – state the results as they relate to the research questions.
Results are stated clearly; meaningful, insightful, explanation given for conclusions drawn based upon behaviors observed. Explanation includes linages to social psychology theories and tied to the Abstracts included.
Results are clearly; straight-forward explanation given for conclusions drawn based upon behaviors observed. Explanation includes some linkages to social psychology theories and Abstracts included.
Results are stated but may not be consistently clear. Straightforward explanation given for conclusions drawn based upon behaviors observed. Explanation includes tentative linkages to social psychology theories and Abstracts included.
Results mentioned but may not be consistently clear. Explanation given for conclusions drawn may not be consistency based upon behaviors observed. Explanation may include tentative linages to social psychology theories or Abstracts included.
Results are not clearly addressed; Explanation given for conclusions drawn may not be consistency based upon behaviors observed. Explanation may fail to make linkages to social psychology theories.
Results section omitted.
APA Format – Entire paper meets proper APA style.
Flawless use of APA style.
Minor errors in APA Style.
Utilizes basic APA style but includes consistent errors.
Pervasive errors in APA style.
Missing key components of an APA style.
No paper submitted.
Writing mechanics and style – Proofread carefully and ensure writing style is consistent with academic level of this course. Don’t hesitate to use the Effective Writing Center to help with your writing.
Writing style is excellent and exceeds expectations. No typos or grammatical errors.
Writing style is excellent but there are a few grammar errors or typos.
Writing style is average. Paper contains multiple typos and grammar errors.
The writing is below average and there are a lot of grammar errors and typos.
The writing style is below average and the errors both in grammar and typing make the paper difficult to read and comprehend.
No paper submitted.

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