Field Observation

For one hour, select a place and time to observe for and take notes. This can be anything you would typically encounter during the week. If, as you observe, it becomes clear that people move through this place too quickly or too slowly, look around for another place. You must choose a place where you taking notes (on your computer, phone, writing utensil, and notebook) where you won’t be bothered by others. You are just observing, not participating. You can say “working on a school assignment,” for example. Reminder: don’t be creepy. Stick with something safe. Stay safe. Six to twelve feet away from other people.
Your task is to force yourself to see the concrete details of people’s actual behavior, not your interpretations of them. Watch what people do; suppress the normal instinct to evaluate people or to presume motives. Look at behavioral details like movement patterns through space, hand gestures, posture, positions of legs or arms, ways of eating or drinking, eye or head movements, amount, or volume of talking. “Friendly smile,” “in a hurry,” “flirting,” and “nervous” are interpretations, not actions. As you observe, take brief “jotted notes” of specific behaviors worth watching.
Whatever you are thinking about, train yourself to look for the variations and differences among people. Also, keep your eyes and mind open to other kinds of behaviors that might be more interesting. Where and when you observed and attached your observation notes. It is perfectly OK if this is in your familiar illegible handwriting with spelling and grammar errors. I just want to know that you did this step before the specified date.