Problem
Part A: Social Group Observation
Imagine you are a sociologist who is researching the behavior of social groups in social settings.
Conduct an in-person observation in a setting where a group of people gather. Examples of places with groups include malls, grocery stores, libraries, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, schools, employee break rooms, parking lots, pubs, sporting events, or your local neighborhood.
Station yourself in a safe location where you can observe people for 30-60 minutes without having to approach or engage them. You will just observe people, not interact with them.
a) Gender/sex
b) Race/ethnicity
c) Age
Part B: Findings
1) What is the setting of your observation, including the location, time of day (morning, afternoon, evening), and the weather, if relevant.
2) What are the patterns of group behavior you observed that may have been influenced by each of the following factors:
a) Setting
b) Gender/sex
c) Race/ethnicity
d) Age
3) What are the cultural norms you may have observed in the social groups.
4) Explain any social or economic factors that may have influenced the dynamics of the social groups.
5) Explain how observing social patterns and group dynamics may help you succeed in culturally diverse environments.