An exploratory study of behaviours after meals in a food court in Singapore Polytechnic.

GROUP: MONKEY BUSINESS II

Title : An exploratory study of behaviours after meals in a food court in Singapore Polytechnic.

Date : 3rd January 2008, AY 2007/08, Semester 2
Conducted by : Ong Zhi Xiang Jonathan/0715609
Tan Yi Xun/0725578
Lai Chunyuan/0505394
Ng Shu Ting / 0645870
Liuxuyang/0662488
Ngoh Yi Rui/0620334
Tan Chin Hang/0748913
Peh Si Hui/0737618
Dominic Chong/ 0629289

AIM OF STUDY

The aim of this study is to answer the main research question as below:
Why is there a failure to clear plates after eating in food court in Singapore Polytechnic?

DATA COLLECTION AND METHODS

This study employs a qualitative social-psychological research paradigm. The research is conducted in a food court at Singapore Polytechnic. The research takes a total of three weeks to complete. The research stretches from 15th October 2007 to 7th December 2007.

The forms of data collection for the research are as below:

30 survey forms were given and completed by 30 different people eating at a food court in Singapore Polytechnic over a period of 3 weeks.

The same 30 people chosen were also being interviewed by us, with each interview lasting around 5 minutes.


FINDINGS

The analysis will compartmentalize the participants’ responses to the stipulated interview questions into categories.

Interview Questions

Why do you clear your plates/don’t clear your plates?

8 people feel that it is everyone’s responsibility and also their integrity.
7 people feel that they are lazy and it is a chore to clear their plates.
7 people feel that it is the cleaners’ responsibility to clean up for us.

If there are no cleaners to clear you plates, will you return the plates?

Some of them feel that it is their own responsibility to do so.
Can’t be bothered to do so.
Some could be due to rushing of time.
Only if there are no cleaners around.

How often do you clear your plates after eating?

6 of them would always do so because of their integrity.
12 of them feel they would only do it when it is needed.
16 of them just cannot be bothered to clear.
1 person says that he/she would only clear if he/she is not rushing for time.

Do you think it is important for us to practice the habit of clearing our plates after eating?

Some feels that is a good habit to practice.
Feels that it is not their responsibility.
Peer influence can make them not clear their plates.
It is their responsibility to clear their plates after enjoying their meals.

Some of them feel that they should give the cleaners a chance to do their job.

If you don’t clear your plates, do you think it is a waste of time to clear your plates?

7 people feel that they are lazy and it is a chore to clear their plates.
12 people feel that it is everyone’s responsibility and also their integrity.
5 people feel that it is the cleaners’ responsibility to clean up for us.
6 people feel that they have been taught from young.

If you don’t clear your plates, how would you feel it you are a visitor of the school?

Cannot be bothered
Feels that it is nothing out of the box
Bad impression

If you don’t clear your plates, but your friend did otherwise, how would you feel?

Guilty
Can’t be bothered
Ask others to help
Follow the others and clear as well

If you don’t clear your plates, would you feel bad after the cleaners clear up your table?

Some of them would feel guilty.
Some of them feel indifferent.
One of them feels that it should depend on the cleaner’s age.
Others feel that it is the cleaners’ job to clear the tables.


Do you clear your plates at home or at public places?

Most of them feel that it is only right to clear their plates at home.
Few of them feel that they are just too lazy to do so.
It is only their responsibility to do it.
They feel that it is the cleaners’ responsibility to do so.

After doing this survey, do you think you will clear up our own plates?

Yes, they feel that this has let them realized how taxing is it for the cleaners to clear up every single table.
No, they feel that this is a survey after all and would not change their lifestyles.
Some feels that they would consider and give a second thought to clear their own plates.


CONCLUSION

In conclusion, most of the people are just too lazy to clear the plates or feel that it should be the cleaners’ responsibility to clear it up for them. However, there are still a small number of people who would still clear up their plates. Knowing the use of such behaviours, the polytechnic’s administration can come out with ideas or measures to encourage the students to be more responsible for their behaviours.