Naturalistic Observation Paper

Naturalistic observation is a method used when you collect data without the manipulation of the environment in which you are in. You study the behavior of an organism or organisms in there natural setting. This is the method I used while observing an interracial couple at Flip Burger Boutique at eight o’clock on a Sunday night. The couple walks side by side as they are taken to their booth and sit across from each other. When they were seated things seemed tense and awkward; there was no conversation going on. Both kept their hand sin their laps and do not even touch their drink glasses. The female touches her hands frequently even when ordering her meal.
When there shared appetizer of french fries came out she asked to pray over the food and he sat there acting as if he did not care to do so. She placed her napkin on her lap very neatly and he did not do so. The couple shared the dipping sauce given to them for there french fries and the man signaled the waitress over by putting his hand in the air. They appetizer is

not finished by the time their meal comes out to their table. Both of them got a burger and did not let the rest of their food touch. The male eats his burger by stuffing it in his face and eating very quickly while keeping it close to his face the whole time. He also eats some of the french fries from the appetizer as he eats his main course and kept his plate quite far from him due to his elbows being on the table. He seems to handle his utensils like toys and is not very well trained in the aspects of manners. She cuts her burger into individual pieces before starting to eat and kept her plate at close range. The female ate her main course in its entirety before moving back to the french fries and held her fork as if it was pencil. Neither share their food with each other or even offer to do so. He finishes rather early before she is even half way through her meal and they sit awkwardly until she is finished.
Technology was a rather important part of their meal it seemed. Since they did not talk very much they were on their phones almost the entire time. When the female starts talking as soon as they sit down he immediately pull out his mobile device and gets on it. He seems to have been texting someone else and this causes her to get her phone out of her purse. There is no speaking for a solid fifteen to twenty minutes while they are waiting on their meal to arrive. He begins to speak to her and starts a conversation, but she continues on her phone as if she did not hear him.
The very little conversation the couple actually did have was not very engaging. Towards the beginning of their dinner there is not much speaking but more of a awkward silence. As the silence grows they start to get on their phones as a filter for the awkwardness. Throughout the meal there are times where they speak a good bit, maybe about a tv show or what they did that day, and times where the conversation comes to halt and their telephones make an appearance again. When their food arrives the conversation starts to rise since there food is so close to them they have nothing else to do. He seems to be the only one interested in having a good conversation because when he starts to tell a story he gets physically into them by using hand gestures and laughing at the things he says. They seem to be very amusing and entertaining stories to her also because while is he telling them she is laughing along but doesn't ever reply to him in words. This is really the only time they look to be enjoying themselves and having a good time with each other. The only other major conversation they had was about a football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants on a television in the restaurant. The conversation was not very captivating or compelling. Them seemed to be bored with it and just talking about to break the silence.
When they receive the check the male takes a close look at it and stares at it in an odd way.

It almost seems he is astounded by the cost of the bill or so. He then precedes to show the female and she seems quite shocked also by it. He then gets out his wallet to see how much cash he has counts every dollar in his wallet. After he counts all his money, she gives him a twenty dollar bill and then adds that to what he has in his hands already. She then starts to get change from her change purse and he shakes his head then gives her back her twenty dollar bill. He ends up paying with his debit card. When he gets his card back they stand up and walk out just as the way they had walked in together, side by side. He walks straight out to the car and does not wait for her while she is in the restroom. She walks out to car and gets in the drivers seat and he gets in the passenger side. This couple was on maybe in the early stages of

dating.
This assignment all in all was easy. A problem I encountered was trying to hear the things they were discussing clearly and correctly. Another was taking notes of them without them seeing me look up and listen to their conversation then write down what I was hearing. It was difficult to get close to them without them catching on to what I was doing or to see I was eavesdropping on their dinner. If I were to do this project differently I do not think I would go somewhere so crowded just for hearing purposes and the accuracy of the data. I also would pay more close attention of the little details such as their body language or little things they say that may not be important in the moment. You can see their personality and how they can cope with an awkward situation, first date, business dinner, etc. I think this project was a great way to see how humans interact with each other without noticing they are being observed.