How men see women

1. I directed a controlled observation to monitor peoples’ attitude and how they look at other
individuals based on gender and their occupation. Discrimination is a broad topic that comes in
different categories; age, ethnicity, incapacity, sexuality. And based on modern lifestyle discrimination
is becoming a popular topic within society. Based on this fact, I have decided to carry a controlled
observation that is based on how people; men/boys especially, look at women based on their age,
sexuality and their occupation.
My theory is that majority of the men would always look at women sexually no matter how old they
are and their profession. I decided to use a female athlete and record how individuals (mainly
men/boys) would react. I would record their actions, this could be based on what they say or their
how they act when they see the image.
Controlled Observation Research
I went on to do further research on controlled observation and came across the popular Mary
Ainsworth who utilized a behaviour schedule to monitor how kids responded to brief durations of
separation from their mothers. It included:
 Immediacy and Contact pursuing
 Contact maintaining
 Avoidance of closeness and contact
 Opposition to contact and comforting
However after doing further research, in relation to social behaviours, I came across the ‘Bobo doll
studies’ led by Albert Bandura in order to observe whether social behaviours (i.e. aggression) can be
achieved through “observation and imitation.”
Simplypsychology.org. (2015). Observation Methods in Research | Simply Psychology. [online] Available at:
http://www.simplypsychology.org/observation.html [Accessed 26 Apr. 2016].
The reliability of my checklist was vital as it is the only thing that allows me to comprehend the
results of my observation. I could perhaps add more columns in order to make it more efficient and
enhance it by rewording the checklist, this would allow me to obtain results from under different
perspectives. The reliability of my method would be strengthened by utilizing words that are clear,
precise and that doesn’t come under the same context. I could additionally improve the reliability
based on my grammar.
As a female, it’s hard for me to see it from a male’s perspective but in order to make my research
more valid I will try to avoid any biasness. One thing I know for sure in conducting this observation
is that, I am not expecting to get any spontaneous reaction from a male, who is on his own. People
tend to express their feelings or thoughts with the company of someone else, as they have the gut to
do it, and it is very normal to do it then. I am including this under the factor of affecting the validity
of my observation because one could do it just for the fun or to entertain their company. Meaning I
have failed to prove my hypothesis, and resulting an invalid observation. I will ensure to prevent
biasedness by including a seconder observer as it would permit me with more proof and for my
experiment as it could affect the efficiency. Adding variety of categories can also help me prove my
hypothesis as the end result has been based on different views and possibilities.
The purpose and the positive side in conducting a controlled observation is that I have control of the
environment, time and potentially the contestants. This also gives me the chance to make it as
efficient as possible. Above all, it’s less time consuming. As well as the success there is also the

2. downfall, and that is it gives people the liberty to ignore it or move and leave it, it doesn’t force
them to give out a reaction. In addition to this, I am conducting this observation in the 6th
form
centre, meaning that majority of the contestants would be distracted with school work; not giving
me that chance to prove my outlook about men.
Proving my judgement, contestants that involved more than one gave me the highest rate of
intensity. For instance, contestants’ number 1 and number 4. Like I previously stated, this is very
natural for them as it gives them the freedom to talk whatever is in their mind and have someone to
share it with. Even if the observation wasn’t a complete success, it has given me some idea that
could help me for my documentary. I have stats as well as footages to prove it.
Number of
Contestants
(Each Time
Recorded)
Looking Commenting Touching Draws/Writes
on it
Takes it
down/ Moves
it
2 4 2 2 0 5
1 5 0 0 0 5
1 1 0 0 0 (Wrote
Notes on the
back of the
paper)
2
3 5 4 4 5 0
1 1 0 0 0 5
INTENSITY
1= LOW
5= HIGH