HAS120: Becoming a Social Scientist: interdisciplinary competencies

Assessment 1: Observation Study and Report

Topic: Observation Study and Report

Due: Week 5 Fri 31st Mar by 5pm
Word count: 350 words (not including table, in-text referencing, and reference list)
Weighting: 30%
Submission method: The Observation report is to be uploaded through the HAS 120
Turnitin link on the Moodle site. The upload portal can be found in the assessment section of
the Moodle site. Observation reports should be uploaded as word documents. Do not upload
as papers as PDF.
Presentation: Text must be 12 point, Times New Roman font or clear font. All text must be
1.5 spaced. Headings must be used.

Task summary
- Illawarra Streetscapes is a research initiative of the Illawarra & Shoalhaven Social
Research and Education Enterprise (ISSREE) at the University of Wollongong.
ISSREE produces high quality research evidence to support program and policy
development in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven and provides real world work integrated
learning opportunities to students. Illawarra Streetscapes aims to map locations in the
Illawarra to better understand the physical and social health of our local area.
- Observation involves watching or regarding with purpose in order to see or learn
something.
- You will observe the built environment for signs of an ‘unhealthy city’ such as
graffiti, litter, cigarette butts, broken/damaged infrastructure such as
seating/signposts/bins, and broken/damaged playground equipment within the
Wollongong City area. We are not observing people or their behaviour.
- You will be provided with access to a data entry template to record your
observations. You will be allocated a specific geographical area in Wollongong CBD
(Wollongong-based tutorials), East Nowra (Shoalhaven tutorial), own neighbourhood
(online tutorials).
 - You will also need to write fieldnotes to document where, when and what you saw.
You should write up these field notes within 24 hours of completing the observation
so an accurate description is documented.
- You should also take photos of the indicators of social disorganisation you identify.
These photos must not include people.
- Face to face tutorials: You will conduct the observations during Week 3 tutorial
times with your peers and will be accompanied by your tutor or another staff member.
You will only go to areas that can be accessed by the free Wollongong Shuttle bus.
You will meet your tutorial group at your normal tutorial room, tutor will take the
roll, you will provide your tutor with your mobile number and accompany your tutor
into Wollongong CBD (Wollongong tutorials) or East Nowra (Shoalhaven tutorial).
When you have completed your observations of the areas allocated to you return to
the designated bus stop. If you do not need to return to UOW you must tell your
tutor. If you do not return to the designated bus stop and have not informed your
tutor, the tutor will call your mobile phone twice, if you are not contactable your tutor
will call the police.
- Online tutorials: Students who are enrolled in the online tutorials will undertake the
observational study in their local area/neighbourhood in week 3 tutorials. You
will be provided with a template to record your observations. Students enrolled in
online tutorials must attend their tutorial and your tutor will explain the task. You will
then use the tutorial time to conduct observations of your neighbourhood. On
completion return to your tutorial and discuss what you found and ask any questions.
- You will be required to submit a brief report, photos and reflection (Word document)
documenting your observations as per marking criteria below. 350 words (excluding
the table).

Marking Criteria

1. Completion of field work. The brief report and reflection must include a table
indicating counts of the observations you made and photos of your observations.
(20%)
2. Pick one of the observation areas (the one you thought had the highest number of
“unhealthy” indicators) and provide clearly articulated fieldnotes including
description of the setting (where), time of day (when) and what types of indicators of
 an “unhealthy city” you identified (what). Also, include some photos of this area (2 or
3).175 words. (20%)
3. Brief critical reflection answering this question about your observations 175 words
(20%): According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) a healthy city is one that
‘creates and improves its physical and social environments and expands the
community resources that enable people to mutually support each other in performing
all the functions of life’ (WHO, 2022). Critically reflecting on the area you observed,
what could you say about the social and physical ‘health’ of the area? When reflecting
on this consider the role of your social position (e.g. gender, class, race, ethnicity) and
how it may impact on the way you ‘see’ and interpret the social and physical
environment.
4. Writing style including clear structure and writing style (10%)
5. Correct formatting of references (10%)