The purpose of this assignment is to recognize social psychology concepts at play in these unprecedented
times. You will keep a field log of your observations during one day. This experience will allow you to actively
observe some of the social psychology concepts learned in class.
Writing expectations
The paper should be ~4 typed pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, with 1" margins (excluding APA-Style Title
and References pages). Remember to use APA format to cite and reference your sources (if you are citing
outside sources).
Your task is to observe how social situations around you have been affected by the pandemic. You may
observe people in your everyday lives or look to the news for examples of the changes people are making due
to worry, precaution, or governmental regulations.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be thoughtful regarding what you want to do/observe, and under no
circumstances should you engage in behavior that could potentially put you or other people at risk. You may
need to observe several times to obtain a sufficient number of examples (either at different times or in different
settings).
After gathering sufficient data to make meaningful conclusions,
- Create a log. Click on the attached document titled “Log for Observations-Editable” and complete your log
on this template. Note where you were, the time of day, what activity was going on , and the various reactions
you noted from yourself and the people in the situation. This document will be submitted along with your
assignment, so I would recommend taking a small notebook with you when you gather your data and jot down
observations throughout the length of your "experiment." - For your paper, also answer the following questions referring to the specific principles you have learned thus
far in the class.
What did you observe regarding the behavior of yourself or others?
What percentage of people were actually partaking in the behavior? Were there others who were not?
How is your family and community "joining in" with these new behaviors?
How quickly did you start to implement changes in your behavior?
What social psychological principles or concepts that are discussed in our readings are at play in this situation?
What principles could be used to help in the current situation? Are there others that hinder our ability to
effectively combat this issue?
Sample Solution