Virtual lab home | Assignments & due dates Experiment: Personal Space

Objective: Apply the experimental method in a study of personal space

Prerequisite: Ch. 6 Experimentation

Materials needed: Tape measure or yardstick

Assignment due by: Wed. 5/2, 8 p.m. (enter data online).

Review and discuss the findings by: Sat. 5/5, 8 pm (will be posted online late Thursday morning 5/3).

Description: Personal space is the emotionally-charged zone around the human body. Often compared to a bubble, snail shell, or body buffer zone, it does not resemble a perfect circle, but is more like an hour glass with smaller dimensions at the sides than in front. Personal space plays an important role in maintaining privacy. Cultural, social, and situational differences in the size of the personal space zone can be demonstrated through simulated invasions. Before you do the experiment below, read the background information so that you can answer questions that the participants might have (and it is also interesting).

Instructions: (feel free to look at the data entry form ahead of time -- see below)

I. Find two (2) willing participants (label them A and B).

Record their a) gender, b) age, and c) whether or not they are acquainted with eachother.

For each of the following conditions, ask them to place themselves next to each other at what they feel is a comfortable distance. Then measure the distance between them (feet to feet) in inches -- using decimals (e.g., 1.5" or 1.25 or 1.33, etc. Makes it easier later to do the math).

face to face (measure toe to toe)

side by side (measure outside of first person's foot to outside of second person's foot)

in line - one behind the other (measure heel to toe)

in line, switching the person in front

Note whether there were differences between the two as to where they felt comfortable.

Ask them how they feel when someone stands too close.

What do they do when that happens?

II. Find a second pair of volunteers, preferably a pair that is not acquainted with one another, and perhaps a different gender combination. Take the same measurements, but vary the order (for example, do face-to-face last).

When you are finished, enter the data on the personal space data sheet. Then check back to see and discuss the findings.

Self-test on defining variables - take it when you think you have a clear understanding of the concept of variables and their levels or values.