Adolescent Peer Observation Project

  The purpose of this project is for you to do an observation of adolescent phenomena and tie the observed phenomena to theoretical and empirical issues in the study of adolescents.  The paper you write should have both components: Observation and Analysis.

Observation

	Over the next few days, go to a place where adolescents hang out (a mall, fast food restaurant, park, etc.). Then, choose a target adolescent (TA) and describe the context, his/her verbal behavior, and his/her nonverbal behavior.  It is not that you are looking for anything in particular; all you want is a slice of adolescent peer interaction.  That slice should include the context, language, and behavior of the TA with his/her peers.

	Context: Provide information about the group with whom the TA is hanging out.  Provide age and sex information.  Also add characteristics of their clothing, hair style etc. if it is relevant.  Point out where the adolescents are and how well they appear to fit into their immediate surroundings, etc. etc.

	Language:  Try to capture the words, particularly the slang and intonation pattern, which the adolescents are communicating. Record the information verbatim if you can 

	Behavior: Provide information about how the adolescents are acting.  Are they sitting quietly and acting politely or are they loud and obnoxious? Remain objective and try hard not to be judgmental.   

	In describing this, keep an eye out for the unusual, unexpected, or surprising.  This may take any number of forms.  

Analysis

	Read the chapter on Peers in the textbook, particularly, the sections on peer relations, friendships, and groups.  Try to find relevant ideas which apply to your observations.  Perhaps you can identify behaviors related to peer conformity (p. 354 -356), peer status (p. 356-357), social-cognitive skills (strategies, emotional regulation and bullying/being victimized) (p.  357-360; 408-409), peer interaction functions (p. 352; 360-361), intimacy and similarity (pp. 363),  mixed-age friendships (pp. 363-364), norms and rules in the group (364-365), ethnic and cultural variation (pp. 369-370), cliques (pp. 365-366), and/or material and non-material symbols of adolescent subcultures (lecture).   

	Feel free to focus your review on an issue that you find particularly interesting.  In your analysis, explain how the theory or research you read in the textbook bears on the observations you made.  Make clear and explicit connections between theory and research on the one hand and your adolescents’ behavior on the other.