Modem Britain Studied by 1500 Special Viewers

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 61, 4 December 1937, Page 18

Modem Britain Studied by 1500 Special Viewers

LONDON— -About 1500 persons. in Britain are now taking part in wbat is known as mass observation, This means tbat tbese 2500 are making reports on wbat tbey tbemselve3 are doing eacb day and wbat - tbey see neigbbours and strangers1 doing. Tbey send tbeir reports to a London head* quarters, wbere tbey are being filed. The object of tbis observation is to make as full a sociai survey of tbe customs of modern Britain as pos»sible, applying metbods of anthropology as natural scientists do in tbeir studies in uneivilized countries— to Messrs. Smith, Brown, Jones and Bobinson. Tbe movement was started by two young Englisbmen, Mr Tom Harrisson and Mrs Cbarles Madge. Tbey have enrolled tbeir belpers. from cvery class of society. Tbe observers speud one day eacb montb on. observation. . Tbe scope of reports varies witb tbe experience of vtbo observers. Be-' cruits begin.by merely detailing daily routine. Old bands get on to sueb subjects as tbeir reactions, and tbe ieactions of tbose around them, to film stars, radio and politics. Tbe organizers of mass observation hope' to get a clear picture of - tbe country, from slum t j city mansion and from labourer's cottage to the squire's hall, from tbe poinfc of view of the people themselves.