Observation Paper

Observation Paper

(7 – 10 pages, double-spaced)

Paper to include title page, page numbers, table of contents, reference citations, and reference list.

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to observe human sexuality behavior in a natural setting.

Directions: You will conduct an observation of human sexuality interactions in a public place such as a bar, nightclub, gym, beach, etc., but not a private area such as a bathroom or bedroom.

There is wide variation with regard to the content of your observation report, but here is the basic format:

Background— Include the information your reader needs to put the observation in context. Briefly describe the setting, the emotional climate, the demographic makeup of the participants, whether they were appropriately dressed for the venue/location, and so on, along with any other information you think is pertinent.

Behavioral Results—Describe in sufficient detail specific behaviors you observed by several individuals, couples, or groups. This component of the paper should answer the question, “What happened in this observation?” and should focus on the factual and visible aspects. Pay attention to nonverbal communication. You may also identify the unwritten rules in the setting. For example, in a bar setting, one of the unwritten rules may be that two people pair off and dance on the dance floor. Also, you may characterize the behavior of the participants with labels such as “The Flirt” or “1970s Hairstyle” “The Loudmouth”, etc. This material will form the basis for any conclusions you draw in the final section of the paper.

Conclusions—Draw conclusions based on what you saw during the observation. This section will demonstrate what you learned during the observation about those observed. It should connect to the course materials and answer the question, “What can be concluded from what happened in this observation?” Describe how the observed behaviors are related to theories or other issues presented in the course reading materials, and use reference citations.Include your opinion of what happened. Substantiate your comments with reference citations.

Spend no less than one hour and no more than three hours in your observation setting. The entire observation may be completed in one sitting or several.

Depending on your chosen site and the length of your observation, the paper should be about 7-10 pages in length.

Observation Grading Rubric:

Grade Range 0–150