I am conducting longitudinal research on the topic of focus, and your cooperation would be very helpful.
My methodology is not complicated.
First, I walk as often as I can. I take quite few walks in Southern California, but my research is not limited geographically. I developed my initial protocols in the Midwest.
As I walk, no matter where I am going, my intention is to make eye contact and share a smile with as many of the people I meet as possible. My research primarily targets other pedestrians; people driving through crosswalks or riding vehicles on sidewalks fall outside my smiling parameters.
My research is designed to measure the effects of internal and external focus on the people with whom I come into contact as I walk, which we will call the Community.
This research is ongoing, and the data I have so far is very preliminary. It appears, though, that focus is affected by a variety of external factors.
Several things seem to reduce the external focus of the people in my study. Weather is significant. Here is Southern California, rain tends to obliterate external focus. The presence of cellphones or devices to listen to music can eliminate external focus as well.
Sunshine, on the other hand, tends to increase the focus of pedestrians. People also tend to pay more attention at different times. Responses increase during the evening hours and on weekends.
People walking dogs tend to make more eye contact than average, as do women pushing babies in strollers.
These results are preliminary. My work would benefit from more researchers. Would you be willing to try, or even expand on, my methodology in your community? I would appreciate hearing about your observations.
Where is your focus today?
What factors most affect your focus?
[Image by mueritz]
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