An ethnographic research on non-verbal expressions capturing attention in daily interactions in public places

Abstract

Abstract: This ethnographic study explored the different ways people tended to use to capture attention in their daily interactions and communication in various settings around a university campus in the USA. The study focused on the non-verbal aspect of communication, namely facial expressions, body language and gestures. It adopted non-participant observation for data collection. The findings indicate that there were four non-verbal tendencies in ways of capturing attention. They were standing out, consistency (with variability), creating connections with others/the audience, and being expressive in gestures to others/the audience.

Key words: Ethnographic observation, non-verbal interactions, attention