Social Situation: Go to a location where teens/adolescents are present and in social groups. Sit and observe them while paying attention to the following questions. Your write-up should address each of these major areas. The write-up should be 3-4 pages in length and written in APA format. You should consult at least 2 peer-reviewed journal articles to support your observations and assessments/conclusions.
Ethnic/cultural information
Biological Issues
Did the adolescents appear comfortable in their own skin/bodies? Describe how you could tell.
Cognitive Development
Try and listen to conversation.
What kinds of cognitive skills seem to be present? (i.e. abstract thought, reasoning, decision-making…)
Social Issues
What social situations did you observe?
Did you notice any differences in SES?
What kinds of social roles did you see being played out by these adolescents?
Did you notice any observable emotions? Peer pressure? Gender stereotypes?
Peer Groups
What types of cliques/crowds did you observe?
How important did friendship appear?
How important did popularity appear?
Did you notice any kind of power struggle?
Communication
How were the adolescents communicating?
What types of non-verbal communication did you observe?
Did you observe any technological forms of communication?
Identity
Did adolescents do anything that leads you to believe they are searching for identity? Explain.
Did some adolescents appear to be more confident than others? Explain.
Moral Development
Did you learn anything about adolescents’ moral development? From what?
Do you have any opinion on their knowledge or interaction with “right vs wrong”?
What kinds of values did you see in their communication and/or behavior?
Problems
Did you observe any dangerous, illegal, self-injurious or anti-social behaviors? Describe.
How severe did these problems appear to be?
Conclusion
What was the most valuable lesson learned from this field assignment for you?
What assumptions/stereotypes of yours regarding adolescence and adolescent culture were challenged or affirmed? Explain.