There are a lot of mundane tasks or activities that we participate in on a regular basis that use hidden rules that we do not even acknowledge. Theodore Caplow wrote an article that examined the cultural norms surrounding Christmas and the conformity surrounding them, this helped inspire me to investigate the concealed principles that are present during the most simple of tasks. I went to the Drayer Physical Therapy Institute in Hummelstown and observed the behaviour taking place in the waiting room during a one hour time frame on a Saturday morning. I chose this location as it was convenient for me, as I myself had an appointment, but also due to previous observations and predictions I could make to govern my research. Waiting rooms are
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As each new person walked in the people already in the room glance up to take a look, some people employing the occasional smile, before averting their gaze back to their own little section and getting back to waiting. The most common tool used during the waiting time was the cell phone. All but five people, of the eighteen people observed, played on their gadget with the random exception to look up to watch the clock or see if it was their turn yet. Talking on the cell phone was however forbidden, with a person getting up and exiting the area to take a phone call once their phone rang. One elderly woman had her phone sound on which earnt her a sanction from an employee to turn it off, which serves to confirm that one of the rules was quiet. A few people chose to browse the magazine selection but did not appear fully engaged in the activity seeing as they only spent a few moments skimming a page before they flipped it. There was some light conversation, typically exclusive to the people who arrived together, but one time when it was just three people in the waiting room a conversation about rescue dogs erupted, prompted by an older woman. Generally this is a very solitary activity as each person has one purpose in mind, getting seen by their Physical Therapist so they can …show more content…
Some had obvious ailments which could be recognized by their use of a medical boot or crutches while other people had more hidden conditions, but it is a no no to ask what they are there for with not a single person asking the question. Everyone in the waiting room had the same job, of waiting patiently and quietly, with no apparent role divide being seen between the individuals unless we begin to analyze the staff to patient relationship. There is no need to get called up once your appointment time has arrived as people naturally look up and magically seem to sense when it is their time to go back and start their treatment program. A few exceptions to the waiting rule happened as one man was right on time and could walk straight back while another woman was late for her appointment so she scurried back to apologise and get started. The facility is not overly formal, with no handshakes or official greetings taking place, with the exception being to a new patient that has never been there before. There were a couple of occasions where people looked visibly irritated or annoyed by the waiting time demonstrated by their fidgeting and looking at the clock before letting out a sigh, but no one approached the desk to complain and no one walked
As each new person walked in the people already in the room glance up to take a look, some people employing the occasional smile, before averting their gaze back to their own little section and getting back to waiting. The most common tool used during the waiting time was the cell phone. All but five people, of the eighteen people observed, played on their gadget with the random exception to look up to watch the clock or see if it was their turn yet. Talking on the cell phone was however forbidden, with a person getting up and exiting the area to take a phone call once their phone rang. One elderly woman had her phone sound on which earnt her a sanction from an employee to turn it off, which serves to confirm that one of the rules was quiet. A few people chose to browse the magazine selection but did not appear fully engaged in the activity seeing as they only spent a few moments skimming a page before they flipped it. There was some light conversation, typically exclusive to the people who arrived together, but one time when it was just three people in the waiting room a conversation about rescue dogs erupted, prompted by an older woman. Generally this is a very solitary activity as each person has one purpose in mind, getting seen by their Physical Therapist so they can …show more content…
Some had obvious ailments which could be recognized by their use of a medical boot or crutches while other people had more hidden conditions, but it is a no no to ask what they are there for with not a single person asking the question. Everyone in the waiting room had the same job, of waiting patiently and quietly, with no apparent role divide being seen between the individuals unless we begin to analyze the staff to patient relationship. There is no need to get called up once your appointment time has arrived as people naturally look up and magically seem to sense when it is their time to go back and start their treatment program. A few exceptions to the waiting rule happened as one man was right on time and could walk straight back while another woman was late for her appointment so she scurried back to apologise and get started. The facility is not overly formal, with no handshakes or official greetings taking place, with the exception being to a new patient that has never been there before. There were a couple of occasions where people looked visibly irritated or annoyed by the waiting time demonstrated by their fidgeting and looking at the clock before letting out a sigh, but no one approached the desk to complain and no one walked