Social Interaction Alone and In Groups

1. Social Interaction Alone and In Groups By Stephanie Dubecky, Alex Amaru, Heather Oski, and Christine Lillis

2. Hypothesis and Rationale • For our experiment, we wanted to discover if people where more likely to engage in conversation if they where placed in a bigger group versus being by themselves. • ‪We discovered that when people sat in a larger group and greeted each other, they're more likely to engage in conversation afterwards.  However, if they sat by themselves they where more likely to just wave or greet a passerby than to get into a conversation. ‬ • ‪When people are in public places, such as the student center, they are more likely to engage in conversation with others when they're setting is in a bigger group than when they are a lone. ‬

3. Study Design and Methods • Two people at a time • Location in Student Center • Observations of groups and individuals • Non-verbal • Greetings • Conversations • Interactions

4. Data

5. Graph

6. Analysis • Total # of Interactions- Group 1.71 times more than Individuals • # of Conversations- Group over 3 times more than Individuals • # of Greetings- Group 4.35 times more than Individuals • # of Nonverbal Actions- Group over 3 times more than Individuals

7. Observations • Activity level of student center affected the data • More groups than individuals overall • Usually the same people

8. Summary/Conclusion • Individuals in groups interacted more in all areas • Individuals alone engaged in all behaviors generally equally • Those in groups engaged most in conversations, then in greetings less, and nonverbal communications the least • Body language? • Choose just one, or all three?