Observations Page, Research Proposal Example

Ten people will constitute the sample to be used for observation purposes.  The sample to be observed will be selected from the same population chosen for the questionnaires, and selection for both samples will be done at the same time. Therefore, one respondent cannot belong to both samples. The subjects will be observed for a period of one week. Observations will be carried out during socialization sessions such as informal gatherings outside lecture halls, lunch and tea breaks and visits to each other’s residence.

The interview will have to look for scenarios where the selected subjects in the company of their platonic friends. The researcher will gather information regarding:

1. Whether there are indicators of sexual attraction, intimacy, and a unique sense of affection among the friends. The observations made here might make the researcher make a rather subjective decision on whether each relationship seems genuinely platonic or not.
2. Tendency among subjects to inhibit indicators of sexual attraction towards the platonic friend
3. Any views expressed by the subject concerning the nature of the platonic friendship.
4. whether or not there are signs of distress in the friendship
5. how the platonic friends are coping with the society’s expectations of the existence of sexual attraction

The duration of one week may be extended if the researcher feels that the right scenarios did not present themselves within the given timeline. Another problem that will have to be overcome is one relating to social distance between the researcher and the subjects. The researcher will have to be very adaptive to the situation within which he is making the observations. He will have to avoid causing unnecessary attention in order not to prevent the subjects from exhibiting unnatural behaviors.