Introduction
Studying the behavior and interaction of people in public places can help identify any clear patterns and features. The New York Public Library was the method for conducting and maintaining records, which provided a sufficient flow of people for the study. The actions of all participants were documented in detail to understand common themes and differences related to human behavior. Observation can provide a lot of important information regarding aspects of interaction and how people may relate to each other or the observer (Koide et al., 2019). It is essential to categorize observation participants based on their specific data and behavioral patterns.
Similarities and Differences Among Observations
Comparing and contrasting the obtained data is an imperative aspect of conducting research. Public places are imperative for observing behavior within social norms (Herring, 2019). A common theme is the lack of respect for the environment, as participants, regardless of gender, nationality, or age, did not maintain sufficient cleanliness in the library.
Another common aspect is the display of expected polite behavior, such as greeting or appreciation, which conveys a shared understanding of social norms (Brady et al., 2021). Many of those observed also demonstrated an essential common aspect of maintaining cleanliness, in contrast to the first group.
The main difference in all people was their appearance, which concerned the elements of clothing that reflected cultural influence and diversity. In addition, the age and social roles of people also differed significantly since many people of different ages, races, and genders visited the library. Another critical data is the communication of people, which differed since the Hispanic girl and the person with black hair maintained communication with the researcher, unlike the others.
Emerging Themes and Their Prevalence
One common theme among all the people observed was environmental responsibility. Even though some individuals had a disdainful attitude towards maintaining cleanliness, most study participants followed socially acceptable norms. Many participants correctly understood the importance of maintaining cleanliness by collecting litter and preventing it from being left behind. These actors included an elderly man, Hispanic individuals, and a librarian. This general topic did not cover all participants, but a significant part of them, and therefore, we can talk about the manifestation of a particular trend.
Characteristics of Individuals with Similar Behavior
The general characteristics of people can be analyzed by dividing them according to the principle of their attitude towards maintaining cleanliness. Persons who were actively involved in cleaning included different people in all respects. This applies to race, gender, and age, as both older and younger Hispanic people were seen during the cleaning process. Regarding appearance, the man was dressed in an old gray suit, and the Hispanic individuals were in casual clothes. In the context of attitude toward the researcher, we can say that all the people showed friendliness.
Another category of people who neglected cleaning was characterized by younger people. The clothing of these observed people had a specific variety, which characterizes normal human behavior and the desire to express originality (Tummers, 2019). The young girl wore a Megadeth T-shirt, the boy wore faded pants, and the young man wore dirty jeans and a torn T-shirt. These people showed neither a loyal nor a negative attitude towards the study.
Outliers: Individuals Who Acted Differently
Compared to everyone else, what stood out was a young man with black hair who sat on the steps and smoked while talking to the researcher. He actively interacted by offering a cigarette, actively communicating, and showing friendliness and appreciation. The nonverbal communication of this person was characterized by constant maintenance of eye contact, which other people tried to avoid. This observed person also did not contribute to the cleanup of the environment because he did not throw the cigarette into the trash bin.
Conclusion
In conclusion, observing the behavioral patterns of people in the New York Public Library is useful for understanding various aspects of social interaction. Observation has shown that different groups have specific interactions that can affect certain aspects and patterns of social behavior. Groups of people were divided into main signs, such as cleaning the premises and ignoring this process. Thus, this is a pattern dividing the observed society.
References
Brady, W. J., McLoughlin, K., Doan, T. N., & Crockett, M. J. (2021). How social learning amplifies moral outrage expression in online social networks. Science Advances, 7(33), 1-14. Web.
Herring, C. (2019). Complaint-oriented policing: Regulating homelessness in public space. American Sociological Review, 84(5), 769-800. Web.
Koide, K., Miura, J., & Menegatti, E. (2019). A portable three-dimensional LIDAR-based system for long-term and wide-area people behavior measurement. International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems, 16(2), 1-16. Web.
Tummers, L. (2019). Public policy and behavior change. Public Administration Review, 79(6), 925-930. Web.