Imagine that you are in the beginning stages of an observational research study and must arrive at operational definitions for the behaviors you’ll be observing. For each of the following hypotheses, operationally define the behaviors to be recorded and describe how you would set up the study (i.e., where you would conduct the study, whether you would create some level of structure, etc.).

1. In the college library, most students spend less than half of their time actually studying.

2. Men interrupt women more than women interrupt men.

3. In a free play situation, older children play cooperatively but younger children engage in parallel play.

4. Teenagers patrolling malls follow clearly defined routes that they repeat at regular intervals.

5. Couples look at each other more when they are dating than when they are married.

6. Dogs are more aggressive within their own territories than outside of them.