Do people make more eye contact with strangers or with people they know? You might think the answer is obvious. A simple observation test can reveal the truth.
You pick two settings. One is a place where people are unlikely to know each other, such as a grocery store or mall. The other is a place where people are more familiar, such as a school or family gathering. In each setting, you watch for three minutes and count how often people make or avoid eye contact.
Repeat for at least 20 trials in each setting and compare the totals.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that eye contact is an important part of communication and cooperation.
Eye contact is one of the strongest ways people share meaning through body cues rather than words. This project tests whether people make more eye contact with strangers or with people they know. You count how often eye contact is made or avoided in each setting, then compare the totals.
Eye contact is one form of body language you can measure. You watch people for three minutes and count how often they make or avoid eye contact. You do this in two settings — one where people know each other and one where they do not.
Eye contact signals attention during a conversation, but familiarity changes how often it happens. Comparing a setting where people are unlikely to know each other with one where people are more familiar reveals those differences. Counting instances over at least 20 trials in each setting shows whether comfort with someone increases or decreases direct gaze.
Method & Materials
You will conduct this experiment in two different settings. Setting A will be in a place where people are not likely to know each other, and Setting B will be in a place where people are likely to know each other. You will observe the number of times people make eye contact or avoid eye contact for three minutes and record your observations.
You will need a stop watch and a data sheet.
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The results of this experiment showed that eye contact is an important part of communication and cooperation. In some cultures, direct eye contact is seen as being disrespectful, while in others, eye contact is valued.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it explores the importance of eye contact in different settings and cultures.
Also Consider
Variations of this experiment could include observing eye contact in different age groups or in different countries.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
