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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 11. June 21, 1939

Group Observation

Group Observation

Of no small importance to the furtherance of the study of society is the first bulletin of the Group Observation fellowship of New Zealand. As is staled in its introduction the Fellowship (G.O. for short) "was founded in April, 1939, in an attempt to study scientifically, and at first hand, the habits and opinions of human brings living In a civilised community. More particularly. Its method involves the quantitative treatment or material obtained by the [unclear: enquiry from] a representative sample of the people of New Zealand." The strictly scientific basis of the G.O. fellowship is also emphasised. "It Is not the place of the organisation to approve or condemn die opinions expressed by observers: the act of recording them in Itself justifies the existence or G.O..."

Historically the movement had its origin in England, in the activities or Charles Madge and Tom Harlsson. The hitter, a young anthropologist whose work on South Sea Islanders and book "Savage Civilisation" has attracted much attention, was or the opinion that "cannibals were at least as civilised and as pleasant as Old Harrovians," and hence decided to devote himself to the application of the technique or anthropology to the savages of our own continent.

Thus arose Mass Observation, which Professor Malinowski has described as "a nation-wide intelligence service," or the "science of ourselves" An excellent account of the results obtained by these two scientists appears in a Penguin Special entitled "Britain," where observation on opinions and customs ranging from the last War Crisis In the Lambeth Walk are set out.

In a preliminary classification of observers the N.Z. G.O. Bulletin points out that as the organisation is at present constituted. 76 per cent, belong to the Administrative and Professional groups (a group including only 10 per cent, of New Zealand people engaged in remunerative occupation). Thus, for the time being, opinions expressed are largely those of this class. The observations made were on the following subjects: Hitler speech to the Reichstag. April 28, 1939: A Survey of, Personal Contacts—being a research; into (1) the interests of New Zealand: (2) the sociological mechanisms governing the formation and interchange of opinion; and (3) Anzac Day. The results are tabulated and analysed into comparative sections. In the first there, was a range of 37 opinions: in the, second 332 conversations: In the third 222 persons were observed. And even at' this early stage G.O. exhibits a diversity of outlook that is both surprising and Interesting.

The Bulletin is published by the G.O. fellowship, P.O. Box 75. Te Aro Wellington. Price 9d.

—M.L.B.

A true musician is one who when he hears a lady singing in the bath, puts his ear to the keyhole.