Observation of Human Behavior

This lab is adapted from an assignment by Dr. John Ruys

Introduction:

Observation is a frequently use method to collect data on the behavior of humans and a variety of other species. The behaviors that can be observed include the simplest of movements to patterns of social interactions between groups of animals. Some human behaviors are performed unconsciously without us even being aware that we are doing them. For example, people will often touch their face when nervous or to break eye contact with a stranger.

In this laboratory exercise students will perform a short period of observations to count the number of times human subjects touch their faces. Data will then be examined for differences in the frequency of face touching between men and women. This exercise will provide students with familiarity with observation of human behavior, how to prepare data, and how to analyze data. Before collecting data you must generate two predictions concerning face touching behavior in men and women. Also spend this time thinking about an explanation for your alternate hypothesis.

In a word processor (or on paper) write down your null hypothesis and alternate hypothesis.

Data Collection

Students will observe the behavior of humans around EVC. Students will break into pairs. One student will observe a subject and the other person will keep time and record the frequency of behaviors. Subjects will be observed for 2 min. Each pair of students must observe 8 subjects. Try to avoid being noticed (do not stare for the 2 min observation, keep glancing around and moving your head). Do not observe the same subject more than once and give each subject a unique number or name.

Data will be collected on face touching. This will be defined as any physical contact of the hands on the face, neck, chin, or hair. This might include twirling fingers through one’s hair, scratching the chin, rubbing the neck, or a brief touch on the cheek. Count a face touch only once regardless of how long it lasts. A new contact can be scored once the hand moves away from the face for 1 sec. Use a table like this to enter your results:

Descriptive Statistics

Your Data

Once you have collected data on all subjects return to the lab. You will need to total the number of face touches for each subject. This data will need to be entered into an Excel spreadsheet. Enter your data in the “Individual” sheet, and calculate some basic descriptive statistics (the mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation) for all of your subjects.

Combined Data

Please tell all the other groups the following data:

• Number of males observed
• Mean number of face touches for males
• Standard deviation for males
• Number of females observed
• Mean number of face touches for females
• Standard deviation for females

Enter your data (and that of the other groups) into the spreadsheet on the “Combined” tab. The formulas on this spreadsheet are not magic; they are derived from the computational form for calculating standard deviation

Constructing Graphs

Copy the means and standard deviations from the “Combined” tab to the “Summary” tab. (Or, if you are an Excel guru, just make a cross-tab reference.)

The graph will have the dependent variable (face touches) on the Y-axis and the independent variable (gender) on the X-axis. Select the chart wizard icon:

and select column chart

You will then be asked to select the data range. Click the icon at the right of the “Data Range” box:

When you click the icon, the dialog box shrinks to a single line, and you will be taken back to the spreadsheet; you highlight the range you want (Cells A2 through C3), and then click the icon again.

On the next phase of the dialog, label the Y-axis as Mean number of face touches. You do not need to title the graph. Choose the Legend tab, and turn off the checkbox labeled “Show legend”. When you click the Next button, select “As new sheet” and label it “Graph”.

You need to add bars to show the standard deviation; this information is necessary to properly interpret the data. Select one of the bars and click the right mouse button. On the sub-menu that pops up, select “Format Data Series”. Select the “Y error bars” tab. We want to show both the amount above and below. In the “Custom error” area, click the icon on the right and select the standard deviation numbers. Do not select the cell with the label (cell A4). Do the same again for the minus box.

Writing Up the Study

In APA style, write an Abstract, Methods, Discussion and Results sections. You should include your hypothesis in the Abstract. Your report should answer the following questions.