Due Date: June 14
Instructions:
I do not have a solid reseaerch question so if you can think of a better one than what i put in my topic please use that. All of my observation notes (field notes) are attached at the bottom
Write a 10 -15 page preliminary research report based on your original ethnographic data (i.e.,
your fieldnotes) collected during weeks 3-8). Please use size 12 font in Times New Roman,
Garamond, or Arial.
All papers must include:
-
A title, but do not include a separate title page (see last page of this PDF for an example)
-
Page numbers at the bottom of each page
-
In-text citations and a bibliography following any widely used citation style (e.g., APA, ASA, MLA, or Chicago)
When writing, model your tone and style on the research articles and book chapters we have
read in this course. Avoid passive-voice and be direct. Aim for clarity rather than trying to
sound “smart” (trust me, your writing will sound “smarter” if it is clear).
Your paper must be organized as follows:
Introduction – 1 page – Explain what happens in the rest of the paper (write this last). Your
introduction must include 1) a brief overview of your research question(s), a brief
provisional answer to your research question(s), a brief explanation of how you attempted
to address your research question(s), and a brief explanation of why participant
observation was necessary to address your research question(s).
Background / Literature Review – 1-3 pages – Explain what puzzled you about your research
site that provoked your research question and why you found this puzzling. Provide
background information necessary for readers to understand why you carried out this
project and why your findings might matter.
Methodology – 3-5 pages – Explain what you did to collect and analyze your data. This is the central part of the paper and the most important. (I used observation, and woul duse voice memos and notes app)
This section should justify your approach by using references from the course’s core textbooks. This section must cover the following six topics:
-
an explanation of why your research question is suitable for your research method,
-
an explanation of why you chose your research site and why this choice was sociologically interesting in relation to key sociological topics (e.g., issues of class, race, gender, etc.; group-formation, conflict, power, status, etc.),
-
an explanation of how you gained access to your site and how you conducted (participant) observation,
-
an explanation of how you analyzed the data, and
-
a discussion of any challenges in terms of subjectivity, ethics, or access.
-
a discussion of any limitations to this study
Presentation of Data – 3-5 pages – Present your ethnographic data that illustrates 2-3 core
themes you found in your research and you must explain how these themes relate to or
answer your research question(s). Your themes should be built upon open and axial codes
that, when combined, illustrate the themes you have identified.
Discussion – 1-3 pages – Explain what your preliminary data suggest in terms of your research
question and/or sociological theory. Explain what your preliminary findings suggest in
terms of conducting future fieldwork and evaluate your research using the five core
concepts presented by Small and Calarco.
Conclusion – 1 page – Summarize the above and briefly discuss how the preliminary findings
help you to understand your research question.
Field Notes in Attached Files