The International Team

presents
An Observation Presentation
Research Question

During a two-hour period mid-day on a Saturday, what

proportion of individuals enter a small, midwestern coffee
shop, Sullivan Taylor, with the intention to study versus
the intention to socialize?
Scene of the Experiment
Definitions (The Operational Kind)

“Intention to Study”-Presence of study materials such as laptops, notebooks,

writing utensils, etc.

“Intention to Socialize”-Presence of another human and the absence of the

aforementioned study materials.

Subjects who had both study materials and a human with them were classified
in the category of “intention to study”.
Experiment Description

Conducted on a brisk Saturday afternoon from 12pm-2pm

Sullivan Taylor is located in the small, midwestern town with a population

21,516 (United States Census Bureau, 2010)

Sullivan Taylor was one of the only coffee shops in town when the experiment
was conducted
Results
Behavior Researcher 1 Researcher 2 Mean Frequency
Observed Frequency Observed Frequency

Intention to Study 3 2 2.5

Intention to Socialize 27 27 27

Neither 1 4 2.5

In the scientific community, determining the mean of both observations is a

more accurate reflection of the observed frequency of behavior
Conclusion

More people there to socialize than study - contrary to researchers’ expectations

Only two categories at beginning of observation, added a third “neither”

Number of subjects lower than expected

Future Considerations

Time of Day

Day of the Week (Weekends vs Weekdays)

Population of surrounding town

Coffee Shops in Urban vs Rural Setting

Period of the Semester (midterms vs finals vs beginning of the semester)

References

United States Census Bureau. (2010). Profile of general population and

housing characteristics: 2010, 2010 demographic profile data [Data file].
Retrieved from
https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtm
l?src=CF