CAREFULLY READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE ASKING FOR ASSIGNMENT. THERE IS ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE DONE/FABRICATED FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS ASSIGNMENT.
Instructions:
This assignment will leverage your curiosity. It will invite you to explore your ideas and connect social psychology to daily life.
The Observation of Social Behavior project is an integrative assignment that supports synthesis and the third learning outcome for the course:
explain and analyze the underlying causes of behaviors to inform decisions in social, personal, and professional interactions
Objective:
Design, conduct, and report on a brief study that uses naturalistic observation in a public/communal space to answer a research question you develop on a topic related to social psychology. Submit a 4- to 5-page, APA style research paper, that communicates how specific topics, theories, and research findings discussed in this course shaped: 1) your research question, 2) the approach applied and behaviors observed, and 3) your understanding of the observation(s) upon conclusion.
What is Naturalistic Observation?
In Principles of Social Psychology, our eBook for this course, Jhangiani and Tarry (2014) introduce observational research. In Chapter 1 they outline how observational research refers to different types of qualitative studies in which behavior is systematically observed and recorded in an objective manner. The goal of observational research is to capture a snapshot of the characteristics (to include behaviors) of an individual, group, or setting, at a given place and time. As such, observational research is considered non-experimental because nothing is manipulated or controlled; thus, cause-and-effect conclusions cannot be drawn.
There are several different types of observational research designs. These include case studies, structured observations, participant observation, and naturalistic observation. For this assignment you will use naturalistic observation. [If you are curious, and would like to read further on the other design types, a useful, brief description is offered by Price et al. (2017).]
According to Salkind (2010), naturalistic observation affords us the opportunity to observe organisms in their natural settings. “Behaviors or other phenomena of interest are observed and recorded by the researcher, whose presence might be either known or unknown to the subjects….No manipulation of the environment is involved in naturalistic observation, as the activities of interest are those manifested in everyday situations” (para. 1).
Using naturalistic observation, you will seek to answer a research question you develop on a topic related to social psychology. In doing so you will: 1) describe behavior as it occurs in the natural setting, and 2) describe the variables that are present, and the relations among them.
Key Steps:
The key steps for the assignment are…
Choose a topic or theory covered within the course content (e.g., altruism, attraction, conformity, gender, group influence, persuasion).
Research the topic using the UMGC Library to learn more about it.
Develop a research question you would like to explore through naturalistic observation. Question must be answerable through observation.
Create your observation strategy that will enable you to explore your research question. Include in this planning data collection/coding strategies.
Conduct the observation and evaluate the data collected.
Write and submit for grading a well composed, 4- to 5-page APA style formatted Observation of Social Behavior research paper.
Requirements:
Submit a single document that 1) introduces an appropriate research question grounded in social psychology; 2) answers the research question through naturalistic observation; and 3) addresses the requirements listed here.
Observations are ONLY to be made in public places, communal spaces in your home, or via public webcams (e.g., Zoos have “live” webcams that enable one to see the public within habitat areas). Observations may not be made in private areas (e.g., bathroom, bedroom). Observations must be unobtrusive, meaning you may not interact with observed subjects. You cannot speak to subjects or solicit written responses to questions or surveys. [See the “More on Unobtrusive Observation” box below to learn more about why unobtrusive observation is important to your project.]
Your research can revisit a social psychology related question or study found within the empirical literature, or you can develop a new research question of your own design. In both approaches, you will have the opportunity to synthesize information from the course, expressing your understanding on the topic.
Within the document…
Introduce. Concisely introduce the reader to the research topic addressed through your observation project. Clearly define terms and theory when introduced in the paper. Anchor the paper through a well-constructed thesis statement.
Have purpose. Your research question should clearly relate to a social psychology topic/theory. Dedicate discussion to the origins of the research question, to include support from existing studies. All topics are to be discussed in clear detail.
Connect. In the introduction of the research question, and in the discussion of the observation outcomes, support assertions made. Express interrelated ideas coherently and logically.
Include sources. Incorporate course sources and a minimum of three (3) peer-reviewed professional sources from our UMGC Library. [In an Appendix to the study, present a copy of the abstracts from three peer-reviewed journal articles, along with a summary of how the articles facilitated your research. More on the Appendix requirement is provided below.]
Use Authorial Voice. Discuss materials in your own words and your own writing style and structure. Avoid excessive use of direct quotes. Doing so may incur a point penalty for each occurrence and will not be accepted as content towards the page count of the reflection paper.
Apply APA Style**. Neatly and concisely present an APA formatted document containing
Title Page
Introduction
Method
Subjects
Setting
Procedure
Results
Conclusions
References
Properly formatted in-text citations and references
**The UMGC Library has a wonderful collection of resources to demonstrate how to format the paper.
Use APA style headings and subheadings, double-spacing, an appropriate serif or sans serif font (e.g., Times Roman 12-point; Arial 11-point; Calibri 11-point), 1-inch margins (left, right, top, and bottom), page numbering, and logical flow from topic to topic. Write with clarity, paying attention to spelling, grammar, and syntax. Consult the UMGC Citing and Writing Guide, for proper form of APA Style in-text citations and references. You can also take advantage of the UMGC Effective Writing Center to gain early feedback and assistance with APA compliance.
UMGC’s Effective Writing Center is also a great resource to leverage: https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/index.cfm
*Check the Course Schedule in this syllabus for the due date.
HINTS & EXTRAS TO SUPPORT YOU ALONG THE WAY
More on Unobtrusive Observation
During your naturalistic observation study, it is important that you do not interfere or intervene in the behavior being studied. The main reason you must be unobtrusive in your study is to avoid interfering or changing the behavior of the participants being observed. Being unobtrusive supports avoiding reactance or reactivity effect. Reactance refers to the biasing of the participants’ responses because they know they are being observed.
To offer an example, consider the studies conducted at the Western Electric Company’s Hawthorne plant in Illinois between 1927 and 1933 (Roethlisberger & Dickson, 1939). The purpose of the studies was to determine the effects of working hours and lighting quality on employee productivity. When researchers compared the productivity of the participants in variable manipulated (test) conditions to others within the plant, unusual findings emerged. The participants in the manipulated conditions often produced at higher rates, to include under conditions that were deemed inferior (e.g., reduce lighting) to those within the standard operating conditions of the plant. The increased performance under inferior conditions was unexpected and thereby, puzzling. This prompted a series of additional studies to assess the source of influence that moved the participants in the inferior conditions to produce at rates higher than those within the general plant. The answer discovered: workers who knew they were research participants and that they were being observed increased productivity. Thus, the knowledge that one is participating in an experiment or is being observed may result in dramatic changes in behavior. [Because of the location of the original studies at the Western Electric Company, the reactivity phenomena are often referred to as the Hawthorne effect.]
Steps for Success
Step 1: Preparing for the Study
Brainstorm. Break out paper and pencil and enjoy the exploratory process…
Revisit the Topics: Review the topics and learning resources we cover in class, to include the content for the week in which this assignment is due.
As you review the topics and resources, think about your reactions to the theories, topics, and research findings covered.
Write down the topics that elevate your curiosity or challenge prior perspectives.
Take note of the lessons (to include specific readings, videos, or class discussions) that left you thinking about behaviors occurring in day-to-day social environments.
Determine the focus of the study: What is your research question?
Goals: List two to three goals for your observation. (For example, you might want to view social behaviors between genders or determine age related social behaviors in a group.) Think – investigate, discover, reveal.
Research Question: What do you want to learn through your observation study? Looking at the topics and resources you have identified in your brainstorming list, take a moment to write down research questions that come to mind. Your question should be detailed, specific, and answerable through observation. (For example: What behaviors do people who are paying attention display during a video conference?) Outline ways the question(s) can be explored using naturalistic observation.
Plan ahead:
Next, make connections through existing literature – discover empirical underpinnings: Using the UMGC library, expand your knowledge of factors relevant to your research question. Find peer-reviewed articles that help you 1) refine your research question, 2) establish the observational methodology you will apply when conducting your observation, and 3) discuss within your paper factors to be taken into account. Be prepared to draw upon theory and empirical works to illustrate important points.
In addition to peer-reviewed articles, you may also use your textbook or other books. Magazines and newspapers are generally not acceptable. For instance, Psychology Today would not be a preferred scholarly choice. If you are not sure, ask your instructor.
Why Peer-reviewed Articles?
Peer-reviewed articles are vetted for quality and adherence to editorial standards, and published in scholarly journals (such as the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology). This link to the UMGC library provides excellent instruction, support and resources addressing scholarly articles. Use the UMGC library database to find peer-reviewed articles. It is your responsibility to make sure that the journal articles you select are appropriate. If you are unsure about the relevance of your articles, contact your instructor for approval. The articles must meet the following criteria:
· Scholarly – Articles should address an original research study, meta-analyses, summary, editorial or theory.
· Refereed – Articles must come from peer-reviewed journals found in the UMGC library.
· Social Psychology Connections – Articles must be relevant to social psychology.
· Recent – Articles must have been published within the last 7 years.
· For example, the following would be a relevant peer-reviewed journal article for investigating the influence of self-presentation costs on deadline extension requests:
Whillans, A. V., Yoon, J., & Donnelly, G. (2022). People overestimate the self-presentation costs of deadline extension requests. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 98, Article 104253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2021.104253
Determine the method. Who, Where, What, When, and How.
Subjects: Develop a clear idea description of your subjects. Include how many subjects you plan to observe, plus relevant demographics (e.g., age). If there are factors that would result in a subject being excluded from the study, note your rationale for exclusion. Also, consider whether there are 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: Determine where the data will come from. Develop a clear picture of where the observation will take place.
Procedure: Plan the logistics. Develop a clear description of how you will conduct your observation. Detail what you will watch for and record. Address when the observation will be conducted and whether the timing of the observation is a factor that impacts the observation method followed or data collected. As you develop your procedures, plan the trustworthiness of the study. That is, think carefully about how the choices made, to include types of data annotated, facilitate answering your research question. Plan how you will record, categorize and/or code the observation data so that it is meaningful and useful.
Step 2: Conduct the Study
When you have a clear picture of your research question and the methodology you will follow, conduct the observation. You should have between 1 to 3 sessions in the setting(s) selected for observation.
Step 3: Prepare the Paper
(Section lengths are averages noted from past student submissions. They are not absolute targets. Develop your paper to meet your message and expressive needs, while meeting assignment requirements. Write in the past tense when discussing the research conducted. The observation has concluded and you are reporting on your findings.)
The following provides a scaffolded approach to writing the Observation paper. Within the guidance you will find expectations for each section of the paper are outlined and are accompanied by occasional suggestions for success. Please read this guidance carefully before you begin writing your paper.
Do not forget: Structure your paper utilizing APA style (7th Edition) 😊
What goes into the paper?
Title Page (follow APA guidance for student papers – https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format) (Does not count towards the page count goal.)
Introduction (Approx. ½ – ¾ page)
In one to two paragraphs, briefly introduce the reader to the social psychological topic(s) that guide(s) the focus of the paper. Your goal is to provide a road map for the paper that frames the importance of the topic studied. Define relevant concepts to anchor how they will be employed throughout the document. Cite relevant sources when appropriate.
Literature Review: (Approx 1-1.5 pages) Following the introductory paragraph(s), provide a brief look at the literature you read and informs your research. Articles discussed should not be simply summarized. The peer-reviewed articles, and other supporting resources, should be carefully incorporated into your writing, building a case for why your research question matters and why your approach makes sense. This can be achieved when you:
Discussion: What is the background and scope of the question you are exploring?
Introduce: What studies or theories are relevant to your topic? Share your thoughts on the accuracy and relevance of that research.
Describe: What are key issues or debates found in the literature? What gaps or opportunities exist for further exploration?
Conclude the review: How does it all tie together? Synthesize your literature findings to show how your work builds upon the findings of the past.
Articulate Your Goals: Transitioning from the literature review, clearly state the goals of your observation. Describe the goals in a way that helps the reader understand your choice to study the topic through observation.
Introduce your research question(s): End your introduction by presenting your research question(s). The question(s) should be clearly stated, supported by the points made within the introduction, and be answerable through observation. (For example: What are the specific behaviors of people who are paying attention during a Zoom meeting?)
Methods (Approximately 1 pages)
Subjects: (Approx. 1 paragraph). Who did you observe? Describe the subjects observed. Include how many subjects you observed, plus relevant demographics (e.g., age, gender, etc.). If comparisons between groups are made, include the number observed in each group (e.g., 2 males, 3 females). If any factors contributed to a subject being excluded from the study, explain why.
Setting: (Approx. 1 paragraph). Clearly describe the observation setting. Where did conduct your observation? Inside or outside? What unique characteristics did the observation site have? (For example, natural light, rainy weather, urban coffee shop, rural grocery store?) In what way was the setting relevant to answering your research question?
Procedures: (Approx. .5 – 1 page): Clearly describe how you conducted your observation. How did you approach the observation process and how did you maintain anonymity? Detail what you watched for and recorded, explaining how the observations address the research question. Describe the number of observations and duration of the session(s). If multiple observations were conducted, explain why and how the events differed. Address when the observation was conducted and whether the timing was a factor that impacted the methods followed or data collected.
Results (Approx. .5)
Present research findings at a summary level: Describe what you observed in an objective manner. Simple total counts, averages or percentages meaningfully described can often capture trends within the data collected. Do NOT simply insert a set of raw data.
Conclusions (Approx. .5 page)
Clearly state – Did your observation study answer your research question(s)? What details led you to arrive at the conclusions drawn? Demonstrating skeptical inquiry and critical thinking. Explain why you drew the conclusions based upon 1) the behaviors observed and 2) theories, principles, or research from social psychology that point to the results. [Reminder: provide appropriate attribution to sources used.]
Discuss why you think the behaviors occurred as observed, and the influence of your own experiences on your observation results.
Lastly, provide a look at how your study complements existing literature on the selected topic(s), the study’s strengths and weaknesses, opportunities for study improvements, and next steps in this area of study.
References (Does not count towards the page count goal.)
References will begin on a new page and will follow the Conclusions section of your paper. Include in this reference list only the articles cited within the body of the proposal. If you have questions about how to format the references, please refer to your copy of the APA Publication Manual, the UMGC writing resources provided within the course, the UMGC Library Get Help: Writing and Citing, the UMGC Effective Writing Center, or ask your instructor for assistance.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
The following criteria will be considered in the evaluation of the observation paper:
Accuracy—Are your stated facts or ideas, correct?
Clarity—Is your research paper clear and easy to follow? You may want to read your paper out loud to yourself. This will help you catch incomplete sentences or lapses in logic.
Depth—Are the issues and implications well thought out and explored?
Originality—What is your thesis (the main point of your paper)? Have you stated your own views and articulated them well? Use your own words.
Supporting evidence—Are your ideas supported with empirical evidence? This is a crucial part of any well-written research paper. You may support your ideas with theories, previously conducted research, or other information you encounter in the text and other sources (journal articles, books, etc.).
References—Did you use appropriate references to support the main points of your paper? Be sure you have these references—that is, that you have the articles on hand if you used them, and make sure that your references relate to the point you are making or support your inferences.
Writing mechanics (form, composition, spelling, grammar)—Is your paper neat and error-free? It helps to run spellcheck before submitting your work and to have a colleague or friend read over your work.
APA style—Did you follow the formatting rules of the American Psychological Association (APA)? You may want to visit the APA Web site, the APA Tutorial in the PSYC Learning Tools in the Course Content Area of your classroom, the UMGC Guide to Writing and Research, and/or UMGC’s library Web page.
Help Structuring the Document
The writing of the paper will employ APA formatting standards. Because the elements of the report are somewhat unique for our purposes, the foundational breakdown of the Applied Final Project is as follows. You may add Level 3 and 4 headings as you deem necessary to clearly communicate the unique qualities of your observation paper.
Section
Heading Level
Starts On
Title Page
Page 1
Title of Your Study
Introduction – Begin your introduction immediately below the Title of the Paper, which is a Level 1 heading placed at the top of Page 2. Do not create a heading titled, “Introduction.”
1
Page 2
Literature Review
2
Continue
Goals
2
Continue
Research Question
3
Continue
Methods
1
Continue
Subjects
2
Continue
Setting
2
Continue
Procedures
2
Continue
Results
1
Continue
Conclusions
1
Continue
References
1
New Page
Heading Level
APA Heading Formats
Text in Paper Begins
1
Center, Bold, Title Case Heading
Text begins on a new line as a new paragraph, following a Level 1 heading.
2
Flush Left, Bold, Title Case Heading
Text begins on a new line as a new paragraph, following a Level 2 heading.
3
Flush Left, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading
Text begins on a new line as a new paragraph, following a Level 3 heading.
4
Indented, Bold, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period.
Text begins on the same line as the Level 4 heading and continues as a regular paragraph.
5
Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period.
Text begins on the same line as the Level 5 heading and continues as a regular paragraph.
References
Jhangiani, R. & Tarry, H. (2014). Principles of social psychology (1st international ed.). BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/socialpsychology/
Price, P. C., Jhangiani, R., Chiang, I. A., Leighton, D. C., & Cuttler, C. (2017) Research methods in psychology [Webbook]. Pressbooks. https://opentext.wsu.edu/carriecuttler/chapter/observational-research/
Roethlisberger, F. J. & Dickson, W. J. (1939). Management and the worker. Harvard University Press.
Salkind, N. J. (2010). Naturalistic observation. In Encyclopedia of research design (Vol. 1, pp. 886-890). SAGE Publications.
