Experiment

SOC 201 | Norm Violation Assignment Your assignment is to further explore the power of social norms via a participant observation research experience. Step 1: Violate A Norm

● Choose the norm that you want to violate. Break a folkway or informal more (do NOT break a law) in a public area.

a. You MUST make sure to stay within the guidelines of propriety or and the regulations and policies of the AUS Student Handbook.

i. Know your audience--if you’re doing something with your parents or family especially, be respectful and considerate. If you know that the violation may easily make the people involved angered and/or deeply embarrassed, then don’t do it.

ii. Know your culture--you all know many more mores and taboos relevant to the culture of the region than I do. Avoid breaking either.

b. This should not be a norm that you have violated in the past, but instead a norm that you are violating currently for the specific purposes of the course.

c. Make sure that your norm is a norm--and not a practical joke. To be sure, consider how the adherence of the norm is typically acts as a mechanism of social control.

Step 2: Record Observations

● Describe your norm violation; include what you planned to do and what actually happened, as well as the above information about how the norm typically acts as a mechanism of social control.

○ It may be helpful to first write out a description of what norm you plan to violate and how before you actually conduct the violation and then compare it later.

● Describe the reactions of others to the norm. ○ Describe all of the reactions you receive, whether verbal or nonverbal. ○ Describe any trends or variations that you notice in the respondents (e.g.

gender, age, etc). ○ What are the usual sanctions (formal/informal, negative/positive) for this

norm, and did you receive any sanctions in response to your violation? ■ Consider whether or not this norm varies across space, place, or

time. If there may be considerable variation, then include this in your paper.

○ Did people react the way that you expected? Ask someone for details concerning how they felt about your norm violation!

● How did you feel when violating the norm? Why did you feel the way that you did?

Step 3: Submit Analytical Report

● You must submit via iLearn a summary of your norm breaking activity followed by 2 to 4 pages that address the above questions. If you would like, you may include images or a link to a video depicting your norm-breaking activity, although this is not a requirement for the assignment.

● Format this report as you would an essay or formal research assignment; do not simply list and respond to the questions. Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.

a. Use 12pt font b. Margins no larger than 1 inch on all sides c. APA 6th edition style guide is to be applied d. Submission must be in a Word Doc (.docx, .doc)

i. File name should match the following format: “FirstNameFamilyNameAUSID NormViolation SectionID” Example: JenieceLusk55555 NormViolation SOC20101

● Assignment is due via iLearn on 22 March 2018 by 11:59pm. Tips

● If you are incredibly shy and this exercise causes you major anxiety, ask someone else to do it for you while you observe and take notes. Be sure to interview the norm violator to get a response to question #3.

● Norm violations with parents and family are also fine; just be sure to avoid violating a norm within a dyad ;-)

● Consider explaining to others that this was an experiment and ask for their feedback.

● If you plan to violate a norm in a class, be sure to get the professor’s permission FIRST.

If your norm violation breaks a law or AUS policy, is taboo or socially unacceptable or inappropriate, damages someone’s reputation or property, or if it is innately hurtful or threatening in nature you will receive a zero on this assignment. When in doubt, talk to me first--and do not do ANYTHING that will make your parents question the course’s credibility; I don’t want anyone’s parents to respond with “what are they teaching you at that school”, “this is what I’m paying for”, or “do I need to go talk to you professor about this?” Please. Please.