Assignment: Evaluate Social Contact Features in your Environment

Instructions

Take a walk around your neighbor and look for environmental features that encourage or discourage social contact or neighboring as discussed by Kuo, Sullivan, and Coley (1998) and Sullivan, Kuo and DePooter (2004).
Make a note of features that might promote community contacts: front porches where people sit, pedestrian walkways and sidewalks, streets with less automobile traffic and more pedestrian traffic, public areas where children can safely play while adults can both supervise them and talk to each other.

During your observation, consider the following: Do these features encourage saying hello, conversation, or other neighborly contacts, even with people you don’t know? Does the lack of such facilities discourage such contact? Are there other features that encourage contact?

Next, visit common spaces such as parks or playgrounds, no matter how small. During your observation, consider the following: Is there pedestrian traffic and neighborly contact? Are spaces open to public view in ways that help keep them safe? Does greenery, benches, or other features promote neighborly contacts (Kuo et al. 1998)?

Write an essay in which you discuss your findings in relationship to your understanding of what is involved in assessing the individuals within their environment. Provide recommendations to help make the neighborhood more encouraging for social contact.

Length: 3-5 pages

Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to the topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards. Be careful to adhere to Northcentral’s Academic Integrity Policy.

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