1. Select a norm common in our society. The norm must be a folkway and not a more or taboo. Please refer to your class notes and the textbook for a definition of different types of norms; specifically folkways. Breaking the rules excludes doing anything illegal or of any risk to a student’s or others’ health. 2. Before entering the field, you must complete the following: a. Statement of the Problem Define the norm you will violate Describe what you will do to violate the norm b. Hypothesis Describe the range of possible reactions others will have to the violation of the norm What do you predict the major reaction will be? c. Describe the Setting Physical — Where is the norm violation-taking place? Social — How many and what types of persons are observing? 3. You must break the norm in a social setting. Vary the conditions of the experiment (e.g., time, place, audience). Violate the norm in a social setting. It doesn’t count if you stare at a clock in your bedroom, or you stand still for 10 minutes in your apartment, when no one is there. Pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal reactions you receive. 4. Observe the reactions of others as well as yourself. Record as quickly as possible those reactions. Describe the indent. Be specific in your reporting of what happened. You must document the types of reactions you observe. 5. The summary and interpretation. This is where you report what you have done and what you have learned in doing the assignment. You must provide: A detailed description of the experiment, including what expectations of social responses you had prior to its implementation. 2 A description of the most general ways people responded as the breach was practiced. Did people react the way that you expected? Please explain. Your how you felt while violating the norm. Did you encounter any difficulties in carrying out the assignment?
