OBSERVATION ASSIGNMENT, NOTICING 2013
Behavior Observation: This assignment is designed to open your eyes to the multitude of ways that a space is used by listing all the different behaviors that you see. Next you will record the prevalence of each behavior type, to better understand their relative import. Finally, you will use this information as a thinking tool, to propose new projects that address what you’ve unmasked. The goal is to fill in your mental schema or outline of a place with the richness of what actually happens there, and by filling in the missing parts to discover something new.

PROCEDURE
	•	Break into groups of two
	•	Choose one location from the list provided of heavily trafficked public spaces for observation
	•	When everyone has chosen a location, choose another group to help record their data. 
	•	Visit the space for about 30 minutes, selecting a good vantage point where you can see a variety of behaviors and record all the different human activities that you see. Don't worry if you see a lot, you can always collapse them later.
	•	After about 15 minutes, try switching to another nearby vantage point.
	•	Don't forget to look up, down, close by and far away, even through windows.
	•	Aim for a list of 20-30 activity types that cover the range of what you observe. Notice behaviors from people of different ages, different physical ability, different ethnicity, and different kinds of companions.
	•	Afterwards, distill your list down to about 6-12 activity types. Describe them clearly so an independent observer can judge when they are happening and when they aren't. Weight your list towards novel behaviors, ones that don't fit your schema and ones that may not be well-addressed in the space.
	•	Now spend another 30 minutes recording each occurrence of the behavior types on the list.
	•	Since there are two of you, you can divide the space to watch, or one person can watch while the other records. Either way, switch partway through so both people do both jobs.
	•	Make qualitative notes as well. Data is always best understood in context so make notes about anything relevant or interesting you see.
	•	You will also give your list and definitions to another group. The group you are helping will give you theirs.
	•	Try going to their location at a different time of day when you think the patterns might be different, like early in the morning or on a weekend.
	•	At the other group's location, spend another 30 minutes recording each occurrence of their behavior types described on their list. Finish up with qualitative notes on their situation that you think will be helpful to them.
	•	Give your data back to the original group.
	•	When you get results back from your data recorders, create a summary of your experience that tells:
	⁃	what was learned, what was counter toward your original expectations or filled out your mental model in an interesting way?
	⁃	what seems like a ripe opportunity?
	⁃	what are some projects that should be considered relevant to this space, or to some of the behaviors?
	⁃	what data is still missing and what further research would you recommend?

LOCATIONS
Grand Central Station
Staten Island Ferry
Brooklyn College main quadrangle
Central Park Zoo
Coney Island Boardwalk
St. Patrick's Cathedral
High Line
Whole Foods at Time Warner Center
United Nations
Century 21
Bellevue Hospital lobby
Canal Street in Chinatown
Sheep Meadow
	Aqueduct Racetrack
American Museum of Natural History
Christopher Park
Times Square Subway station
Brooklyn Flea
FAO Schwartz
Battery Park
JFK Terminal 4 public areas
Macy's Herald Square
Union Square Farmer's Market
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
Hudson River Park