Most effective Applied Anthropology starts with solid ethnographic observations. This activity will familiarize you with this sort of research. There are two components to this assignment: O b s e r v a t i o n a n d C o n t e x t .
One component is composed of a sustained 15 minute period of systematic observation and writing on social interaction. The other component includes contextual features described below. Your goal should be about 750 words of observation notes and about 500 words of contextual features. Here is a 10 minute video description of the assignment (viewing is optional).
IMPORTANT: Do not observe something you are very familiar with. You need a fresh look at a fresh context for your nervous system to actually pick up on the novel evidence in front of you.
>ATTACH the Observationand Context COMPONENTS INTO A SINGLE DOCUMENT BEFORE UPLOADING IT.<
Observation
Students will be expected to systematically observe and “write” interaction between two or more individuals for a 15 minute period. To ask you to “record everything” is absurd. At some point during any person’s observational process, things are being attended to and others are being ignored. What you need to do is figure this out prior to your observation. Once you know what
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you will note (and ignore), pick a location and observe and record what you see for 15 minutes. Be careful as you take your notes not to fall into the trap of writing creative nonfiction. While it is tempting to embellish your observations with what you perceive your subjects to be doing, be careful, there are often motivations at work that are unseen to you. If you would like to interpret the actions of those you are observing make sure to indicate which notes are your thoughts and which are your observations. A good way to do this is to set up your notes in two columns, one which contains a list of your observations and another which contains your interpretation and thoughts. Another popular method is to bracket your thoughts within the body of your notes. For example: Subject A is crying [I think he is sad because subject B took his toy].
Context
Answer the following questions.
1. Where and who are you observing? When were you there?
2. Describe in detail the physical setting in which you observed – pretend that the reader has never been to such a place before and be specific (e.g., how big is the room in feet and inches? How many tables, chairs, desks are there?). Maps and diagrams are helpful.
3. What are the stated and unstated rules regulating behavior in this setting? Give this some thought as this is a central feature of ethnography and cultural anthropology.
4. Note general patterns of behavior, speech, interaction – what are most people doing most of the time? (This is what I meant by “general summaries” above).
5. Describe those observed in general terms: how many of them are there, what are the gender/ethnicity/linguistic divisions, are there other characteristic that distinguish them as a group (uniforms, physical characteristics, et al.).
Reflect on your own feelings and thoughts while you were in this setting.
Assessment of the Observation
I will evaluate Part one of this assignment on the detail of the observations. If they are general
“summaries” of actions, you will earn no better than a C. If the observations are reports of actual behavior for a sustained period of time, you will receive a B or A depending on how well you filled the notes out after you finished the observational period. That is, you will likely develop a shorthand while recording. Directly after the 15 minute period, you should fill out the spaces left empty due to time. Notes must be typed. I will also evaluate the assignment based on if the following points are addressed.
Assessment of the Context
Please follow these guidelines as closely as possible during your observations, and when you
write up your observations. Please use the question numbers in your write up, to aid me in my evaluation of your work. If you respond to all of these points , this section will receive full
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credit.
