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This research study strives to find the most important physical aspects of the research space, the formal and informal rules as well as how these rules are broken within the coffee shop Second Cup. This particular Second Cup coffee shop franchise was located on the York university campus within York Lanes. The surroundings of this Second Cup include the Campus Library, Convenience Stores, medical centres, and parallel fast food competition. Our days of observation are as follows;
September 28th - 1:50 P.M. -2:50 P.M.
October 4th 2:20 P.M. - 3:20 P.M.
October 5th 1:30 P.M. -3:10 P.M.
October 11th 1:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. To properly focus our observations our team developed 4 research questions;
1. Are there specific characteristics and design features that hold more attraction for patrons than other aspects of the space?
2. Is the space being used predominantly for social purpose or being used primarily for more individual related activities?
3. How does an individual stranger going into close physical proximity to another stranger affect another stranger?
4. How does the use of portable electronic devices in this space impact social behavior and interactions?
Observational research provides strong qualitative results. Its environmental participation is a valid source of information that satisfies the “I’ll believe it when I see it” methodology of thinking. The participants involved aren’t aware of any of our research questions, even that they are being studied for that matter. Because of this, the results are unbiased from the members being studied. The weaknesses around observational research, revolved mainly around keeping a discrete, unobtrusive position while attempting to constantly observe your surroundings and others behaviour. Besides this, the infield approach can be time consuming and, I’ve