FieldMethods2021

  "Gaze is the act of seeing; it is an act of selective perception. Much of what we see is shaped by our experiences, and our "gaze" has a direct bearing on what we think. And what we see and think, to take the process one step further, has a bearing upon what we say and what and how we write ." --Paul Stoller Spatial gaze is the fieldworker's stance and worldview . In the field we must do the following things to give comprehensive attention and description to the importance of space: how to look at your fieldsite detailing and mapping space finding unity and tension within a place tension is revealed in the moments of contradiction when multiple or opposing perspectives collide locating a  focal point  (finding a perspective from which to describe your fieldsite) Personal Geographies  (sense of place) influence our spatial gaze, how we look. factors influencing gaze may not always be in our awareness (Jamica Kincaid's writing in text)-enormous influence of ...

 Tips for Writing Thick Descriptions for Ethnographies and Case Studies  EXAMPLES ON ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDENT WRITING DESCRIPTION------------------------NARRATIVE-----------------------------ANALYSIS Ethnographies pose unique challenges, because they involve a combination of fieldwork (observation, interview, survey) and critical analysis through the application of core disciplinary or course concepts.  Your thick description of behaviors in their context should try to paint a clear picture of the event, situation, environment, or culture in question.  If possible, bring a notepad and/or tape recorder in order to capture small details. If you cannot take notes while observing, be sure to write your thoughts down as soon after the experience as possible.  It is also extremely important to be self-reflective; notice how your presence might alter the environment, as well as how your own assumptions and reactions to the situation might affect what you notice and how y...

  Participant Observation is the cornerstone of ethnography the embodied placement of a researcher at a fieldsite as a "social actor" we participate in everyday life and become well-known to our informants we step into the social frame in which activities take place we become directly involved in the activities of daily life-providing an intimate view of both the substance and meaning of social life level of and type of participation is defined by the fieldsite itself considers: gender, race, age, occupation, national origin, sexual orientation, language skills, religion, and political commitment. extended presence signals continued commitment and sincere interest Entering the field establishing rapport is influenced by various skills and identity sets that the ethnographer embodies also enhanced by the knowledge of social positioning and etiquette within the culture successful rapport allows an ethnographer to get high response rates from informants, giving us more accurate ...

  Steps to Creating a Research Design usually begin with abroad research question, but this question must be clearly articulated and carefully linked to the methodology of the research itself. Research question usually emerges from observations gathered from informal visits to the fieldsite linked to the process of exploration/modified in the field good question centers around interests of the larger research community if possible research NARROWLY and think BROADLY read and think deeply about prior work think historically do a thorough literature review something you are DEEPLY CURIOUS ABOUT requires lengthly period of engagement, based on participant observation,  entailing a significant commitment of time, emotion and energy. Selecting a Group or Activity to Study must always explain what you mean by "community" group size depends on the community or activity you are studying Scope of the Fieldsite single site (traditional) focused multi-sited ethnography (more illustrativ...

Read This! The Geek Anthropologist Memes are cultural ideas that spread and repeat themselves across society. Add the Internet and an evolving sense of humor,  embracing the absurdity of the times by making memes about it.  CHECK THIS OUT The Internet meme: a vessel of communication, a signifier of the comedic zeitgeist, and a device for channelling the inherent anxieties of youth. Memes of today drip with Internet-trademarked black comedy. They’re embellished with a vernacular particular to Internet-molded youth, making them fascinating and frustrating to older generations.  When Gen Z memes remark “oof” or “yikes” to the irreversibility of the Earth’s environmental damage, or express the urge to “yeet into the void” to escape the harsh realities of our times, the blasé responses can be hilarious. But they also contain a blunt and powerful kind of honesty. Perhaps the poignancy of meme humor lies in that Gen Z has no other choice but to embrace the absurdity of the futur...

10 Misconceptions about Ethnography Ethnography is Unscientific Assumptions science must test hypotheses science must be based on experiments science must be predictive science must be quantitative ALL science is culture bound  Ethnography is multivariate  and focuses on complex processes rather than being "reductionist" -- artificially controlling for variables so that you can test one.  ethnography is empirical and rigorous Ethnography centers on discovery and interpretation rather than hypothesis testing-this creates a wide angle on research, where research questions can shift- work within the unknown rather than the known (on which hypothesis testing is based) This is more likely to give you broad, potentially unbiased information. Wide range to narrow focus. study phenomena their natural environment science should not be conflated with experiments-- field sciences meet organisms in their natural environments (scale, complexity, flexibility) experiments can not reprod...

  Learning How To Look: "Deep Observation" and "Thick Description": Beginner's Mind (assume you know nothing and look at everything with fresh eyes) Take your time (hang out at your block at all different times of the day, weather, etc.) Look for the unusual in the usual Describe everything in as much detail as possible, you never know what will be important later. look everywhere: up, down, sideways. Click   here  for a great article on looking by a photographer and writer. What to Jot about:                                                                   Notes observations impressions personal feelings tentative explanations behaviors body language sketches of places words (vocabulary) scents, sounds Students need to make a distinction between what they OBSERVE and how they INTERPRET what they observe...