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For this lab you have two options for conducting ethnographic field research.

Option 1 (In person ethnographic field research): If you are able to make observations in a public setting while maintaining social distancing, such as at a grocery store, restaurant curbside pick-up, a business open to the public, etc. that has 5-25 people. If your circumstances prohibit you from doing this, choose Option 2.

Option 2 (Online ethnographic field research): This is an adaptation of ethnographic field research in an online setting. It involves making observations of an online community. This is can be any online community where people post, comment on discussions, give advice, communicate through chart rooms, discussion boards, blogs, etc. This can include social media sites, virtual worlds, or interactive video games.

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Lab Assignment Write-up for Option 1: In person ethnographic field research

1.  Describing empirical observations of the social setting you are observing: Give a full description of the research setting, describing its location, its purpose, and the kinds of people found there. What does the setting look like, what time of day is it, what are the people doing, how are they dressed, how are they interacting with each other (language, gestures, expressions), how are they interacting with their surroundings and the environment? Write-up your field notes (everything you remember) as soon as you leave the field setting. (Note: You are not interviewing people, just observing them).

2.  Interpretations of your empirical observations: In this section you will interpret your field notes. You must make this interpretation based on the concrete empirical observations you made.  For example if you recorded a given conversation, how were the people behaving, did the tone of their voice and their facial expressions let you know something about the conversation more than their words revealed? If you were observing peoples’ behavior, were their actions dependent upon a certain social setting, who was around, what was expected of them? Were there certain norms people followed? Did you notice any patterns in the way people behaved, did most people act similarly or did certain people act differently and if so why? How does the setting influence behavior or interaction between people? How do people interact based on age, class, race, gender, and/or other markers of social stratification? It will be helpful to make your interpretations based on common themes or patterns that emerged from your observations.

Write Up: You can integrate #1 (descriptions) and #2 (interpretation) in your write up.

Length: Approximately 3-4 pages double-spaced. You can write it up in essay format in the first person. You do not need to turn in your field notes.

Lab Assignment Write-up for Option 2: Online ethnographic field research

1. Describing empirical observations of the social setting you are observing: Give a description of the research setting, in this case the online community, its purpose, and the kinds of people found there. What does the online setting look like? How do people identify themselves? Are they anonymous, do they post their names, online handle, photos? How are they interacting with each other? What symbols that are used to communicate (ex. emojis, “likes”, or other symbols) Write-up your field notes (everything you remember) as soon as you leave the field setting.  (Note: You are not interacting with people or asking them questions online, you are just observing their behavior, posts, discussions, etc.).

2.  Interpretations of your empirical observations: In this section you will interpret your field notes. You must make this interpretation based on the concrete empirical observations you made. 

What are the formal or informal norms or rules of this online community? How do people present themselves in this forum and regulate their interactions with others? How could you infer meaning from the content within the online community? For example, what about the way the content was presented told you if people were being serious, joking, happy, angry, etc.? Did you notice any patterns in the way people behaved online, did most people act similarly or did certain people act differently and if so why? How does the setting influence behavior or interaction between people? Did people reveal aspects of their identity (age, social class, race, gender, and/or other markers of social stratification) or hide them? It will be helpful to make your interpretations based on common themes or patterns that emerged from your observations.

Write Up: You can integrate #1 (descriptions) and #2 (interpretation) in your write up.

Length: Approximately 3-4 pages double-spaced. You can write it up in essay format in the first person. You do not need to turn in your field notes.