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Field Research

Field Research. Appropriate Topics: Is “satisfaction” appropriate to study via field research? Are group dynamics appropriate? How do you know whether a topic is appropriate? (public responsibility). Observer Roles. Ethical dilemmas

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Field Research

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  1. Field Research

  2. Appropriate Topics: • Is “satisfaction” appropriate to study via field research? • Are group dynamics appropriate? • How do you know whether a topic is appropriate? • (public responsibility)

  3. Observer Roles • Ethical dilemmas • Methodological concerns (going native; changing environment) • Roles: • Complete participant • Participant as observer • Observer as participant • Complete observer

  4. The Field • Gaining Entrance • Informant – Don’t trust everything you’re told, ie. If everyone hates a person, why. • Staying “neutral”

  5. Sampling • Which group are you studying? • The whole organization; one department; one clique within a department. Be specific who you are studying. • Quota • Snowball • Deviant • Purposive • When are you making observations? • Are you only observing workers on certain days? How might that affect your conclusions?

  6. Gaining More Detail: Interviews and Surveys • 1) Structured or Unstructured Interviews • Keep your viewpoint out. • Use Probes • 2) Surveys

  7. Field Notes or Journal • You CANNOT correctly complete field research without contemplating your interactions through journals!!!!!! • Field notes should detail what you “KNOW” and what you “THINK”

  8. Journal • The Journal is NOT a log of what you did but a critical analysis of observations about: • Relationships (who interacts with whom--race, gender, age, smoking habits, status, class, job description, etc). • Job Tasks (why do certain groups do certain tasks. What are the meanings of those tasks. What “subtext” exists underneath the job descriptions. • Power (who has power over who and why. Race, gender, class, religion, etc). How do people in power act differently or the same as others. Why? • Space (How is the organization physically structured. How does that affect interactions? • OTHER SOCIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT INFORMATION

  9. When to Take Notes • Buy a small notebook and pen and keep it handy • Scribble down something to remind you of interesting observations during your research time. • When you get home, type in the observations. Try to type up the observations as soon as possible so you remember what scribbles mean. • YOU NEED SELF-DISCIPLINE

  10. Journal • When reading the notes, think about what metaphor/concept your observations best represent. Write the concepts in the margins in a different color and think about the notes.

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