Ethnographic Research in a Student Cafeteria

Ethnographic Research Assignment: This assignment will consist of you completing ethnographic research in a public place where people commonly interact with one another (e.g. a park, store, cafeteria, major intersection, or other public location). I prefer that you do not choose the student union. For this assignment, you are required to spend 20 minutes observing norms that govern social interactions. This includes interactions between people, but also the interactions people have with nonhumans (such as animals, objects, and technology). During the observations, you will need to take notes that you will hand in along with the assignment. You should notate a total of about 15 observations of norms and/or agency that you make during the 20 minute observation period to ensure that you will be able to select the 6 best examples for the written portion of the assignment. Your notes should correspond with the questions listed below that you will answer after completing the ethnographic observation:
Questions
1. Describe the public space where you conducted your observations, and explain why you chose this location as a site for observing normative interactions? (100-150 words)
2. Describe at least three norms or codes of conduct that people followed in this public space. Which norms varied based on individual characteristics, such as gender, race, or class? Theorize why you think people followed these unspoken rules. (150-200 words)
3. Describe at least three ways that people enacted agency during these interactions. This includes, but is not limited to, the breaking of the norms or codes of conduct mentioned earlier. Theorize why you think people enacted agency in those specific moments. (150-200 words)
4. Overall, what did you learn from this assignment, and how would you do ethnographic observation differently next time? (50-100 words)
The document you upload must include both: (1) the answers to the four assignment questions above; and (2) a written transcript of your field notes. The field notes should be written in a bulleted format, with each observation mentioned in a separate bullet. Your transcribed field notes should be comprehensible and understandable enough for me to grade
Grading Rubric
• 25%: comprehensible and understandable field notes that highlight approximately 15 observations.
• 25%: a reflection that answers the four questions listed above while also meeting the minimum word requirement.
• 25%: writing clearly with little to no spelling or grammatical errors.
• 25%: demonstrating a strong understanding of sociological concepts (such as social norms, agency, gender, race, and class).