How close is too close

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How close is too close?
The reactions people have when their personal
space is invaded.
Grade 7 Science 7 Period E Gaia
Mattossovich Mekeila Watkins
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Abstract

• The topic of our project was to test the
  reactions of people when their personal space was
  invaded. In order to complete this project we
  went to the mall during the weekends when the
  people were more relaxed. Then we stood five to
  fifteen centimeters close to fifteen complete
  strangers for about twenty seconds or until
  reacted. Later we recorded their reactions. We
  recorded our observations by taking notes and
  pictures. Then we repeated the experiment in four
  other malls with sixty-five other people, twice.
  

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Abstract Continued

• We repeated the experiment with five people we
  know at school, two times since they are our
  controlled group. Then we surveyed twenty people
  at the shopping mall at the weekends twice,
  asking them how they think they would react if
  someone invaded their personal space. We did this
  to compare the results with the other test
  subjects. After we finished our field test we
  analyzed the results and drew our conclusions.

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Abstract Continued

• Our hypothesis is if one stands very close to a
  complete stranger, the stranger will ignore him
  or her at first, and then the stranger will feel
  uncomfortable and slowly move away.
• Our project was a field and research project.
  We went out in the field (shopping mall) and
  researched by standing next to people or
  surveying them and recorded the data by writing
  their reactions and taking pictures.

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Background Continued

• There are four types of personal spaces.
  Intimate space, for whispering and hugging, is
  about eighteen inches around your body. Personal
  space, for talking with close friends and family,
  is about eighteen inches to four feet. Social
  space, for talking with acquaintances, is four to
  ten feet. Public space, for talking to strangers,
  is ten to twenty feet. In our project we will be
  standing in the intimate zone of 160 strangers to
  see exactly how they will react when their
  personal space is invaded.

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Background Continued

• Personal space also depends on the gender of the
  people. Some train cars are designed for women
  only to avoid having men enter their personal
  space. Usually the personal space bubble is
  larger for two men than for two women. If you are
  more outgoing, your bubble will be smaller than
  the bubble of a shy person. Reactions when
  personal space is invaded may include intense eye
  contact, going rigid, becoming uncomfortable,
  pulling back, acting busy, and ignoring the
  person.

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Purpose

• The purpose of this experiment is to find out how
  people react to strangers invading their personal
  space. By doing this project, it will be possible
  to also find out if one is invading someone's
  personal space and how to adjust his or her
  distance.

Japanese
North American
European
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• Our hypothesis is if one stands very close to a
  complete stranger, the stranger will ignore him
  or her at first, and then the stranger will feel
  uncomfortable and slowly move away.

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Materials

• One hundred and ninety strangers
• Park Shopping, Pier 21, Patio Brasil, Brasilia
  Shopping, Conjunto Nacional
  
• Controlled Group- ten people we know
• Pencil
• Notebook
• Pen
• Digital Camera
• Laptop
• Forty surveys

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Methodology

• Read over methodology
• Get pencil, notebook, pen, surveys, and digital
  camera
  
• Go to the mall
• Prepare camera
• Stand close to fifteen complete strangers
• Record observations by taking notes and pictures
  
  
• Give surveys to four strangers
• Repeat steps four to seven in four other
  different malls with different subjects, twice.
  

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Methodology Continued

• 9. Draw Conclusions
• 10. Edit pictures
• 11. Make poster

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Bibliography

• http//www.cignabehavioral.com/web/basicsite/bulle
  tinBoard/personalSpace.jsp
  
• http//www.friends-partners.org/oldfriends/spbweb/
  lifestyl/122/how.html
  
• http//www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,218
  63,1195792,00.html
  
• http//www.salon.com/health/feature/1999/09/01/per
  sonal_space/index.html
  
• http//www.wikipedia.org
• http//www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/personal/s
  pace.html

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                                              P
ersonal Space Protect-O-Matic