Observation project  The paper should be between 3 and 8 pages in length (excluding title page and reference page). It should include a minimum of 3 to 10 valid outside sources. Students will choose a setting or group and conduct an observation, focusing on noting deviant behavior in that setting or group. Suggested settings include busy street corners, malls, coffee shops or restaurants, airports, churches, public parks, courtrooms, etc. They will write a paper relating their observations and analyzing the deviant behavior using what they have learned in the course. Sociology majors will format their paper using the ASA style. Other majors may use the style they are most familiar with (APA, MLA, etc.). Guidelines about how to conduct observations are presented at the end of this syllabus. PLEASE NOTE : This project is classified as a “class activity” by the Saint Leo University Institutional Review Board. To respect this classification, the following parameters must be applied: • Students will not interact directly with the people they observe, beyond answering basic questions or carrying casual conversations. They will not conduct lengthy interviews. • The results will only be shared in the context of the class, excluding any presentation or report to an audience outside of the classroom for which it is completed. • The goal of the activity is NOT to contribute to generalizable knowledge. Students may collect and analyze data using scientific methods, but the protocol is too limited to permit any valid contribution to the general body of scientific knowledge. • The activity does not involve any risk to participants beyond those of daily life. • If the observation takes place on private property, in a setting that is not open to the public: The student must provide proof of authorization to conduct their observation there. The participants do not belong to a sensitive population (such as individuals under 18 years of age, individuals diagnosed with a mental disorder or illness, terminally-ill patients, incarcerated individuals, undocumented immigrants, or convicted felons). Observations in public settings (including stores, restaurants, malls, coffee shops, airports) may involve any kind of participants. .

1. Observation project
The paper should be between 3 and 8 pages in length (excluding
title page and reference page). It should include a minimum of 3
to 10 valid outside sources. Students will choose a setting or
group and conduct an observation, focusing on noting deviant
behavior in that setting or group. Suggested settings include
busy street corners, malls, coffee shops or restaurants, airports,
churches, public parks, courtrooms, etc. They will write a paper
relating their observations and analyzing the deviant behavior
using what they have learned in the course. Sociology majors
will format their paper using the ASA style. Other majors may
use the style they are most familiar with (APA, MLA, etc.).
Guidelines about how to conduct observations are presented at
the end of this syllabus.
PLEASE NOTE
: This project is classified as a “class activity” by the Saint Leo
University Institutional Review Board. To respect this
classification, the following parameters must be applied:
• Students will not interact directly with the people they
observe, beyond answering basic questions or carrying casual
conversations. They will not conduct lengthy interviews.
• The results will only be shared in the context of the class,
excluding any presentation or report to an audience outside of
the classroom for which it is completed.
• The goal of the activity is NOT to contribute to generalizable
knowledge. Students may collect and analyze data using
scientific methods, but the protocol is too limited to permit any

2. valid contribution to the general body of scientific knowledge.
• The activity does not involve any risk to participants beyond
those of daily life.
• If the observation takes place on private property, in a setting
that is not open to the public: The student must provide proof of
authorization to conduct their observation there. The
participants do not belong to a sensitive population (such as
individuals under 18 years of age, individuals diagnosed with a
mental disorder or illness, terminally-ill patients, incarcerated
individuals, undocumented immigrants, or convicted felons).
Observations in public settings (including stores, restaurants,
malls, coffee shops, airports) may involve any kind of
participants.