Ethnographic Research Project, ANT 200

This project will consist of a seven to ten page essay based on original ethnographic research. You will examine a particular social or cultural issue of your choice, either through interviews or ethnographic observation or both. Some possible topics might include: how people interact or behave in particular social spaces or situations; gender differences in the ways in which people interact in different situations; the range of opinions that people have about a particular social or cultural issue, etc. Whatever topic you choose, make sure that your project is manageable, so that the research can be carried out in a relatively short period of time. No outside readings are required or expected. The group/site studied should be specific, not general (i.e. a particular church, not "Christians," or "hippie" styles at WWC, not "hippies." Your report should focus on three or four important "points" that show how underlying cultural values or themes are expressed in the group, site, or issue you are exploring. Most importantly, choose a topic that you are interested in--this project is supposed to be FUN!

Everyone is required to bring in a one or two paragraph description of their research project to class on Wednesday, September 29, and you will be required to discuss the project with me in my office.

Research Methods

This assignment is not a long paper, but it is not one that can be put together at the last minute. Begin your research right away! The research method you choose should be the one which will give you the most pertinent information for your particular project, and should involve one of the following or a combination:

1. Ethnographic Observation
   1. Choose either three different public spaces or a single public space over at least three different time periods (depending on your research topic)
   2. You should take at least one hour for each observation sexxion.
   3. Take detailed notes on both the ethnographic frame (time of day, description of the site, etc.) and on all pertinent interactions that take place within it
2. Interviews
   1. Depending on the nature of the topic, you should carry out either:
      • individual interviews (with 4-6 people for one hour each, or shorter interviews with more people
      • group interviews/focus groups (2 groups of 3-6 people, about one and a half hours each
   2. Prepare a list of questions beforehand but be flexible and allow the conversation to take its own path
   3. Either tape record the interview (with permission) or take good notes on what is said

Writing up the Results

Feel free to be creative in the writing up of your findings, but there is a specific format for this assignment, and you should include the following:

• An Introduction that lays out where the paper is going and what the main points will be
• An explanation of the problem, why the topic was selected
• Some reflexive discussion of your biases, and a description of the methods used, the field site, the respondents
• Three to four sections, each separated by a heading, that elucidate your main points--how cultural values or themes are expressed in this site. Each section should include specific material from your observations or interviews, and sum up the material to make a point. Do not make general statements without backing them up with specific data.
• A conclusion that ties the various points or themes together
• In addition, you should make two explicit connections to something from the class--from movies, lectures, or readings--somewhere within the paper

Like every other assignment in this class, the paper should be well-written, grammatically correct, without misspellings or other writing errors. The paper must, of course, be typed and stapled. If you have difficulties with writing, please make an appointment to see the excellent tutors at the writing center well before the paper is due.

The rough draft will be due Monday, November 29 (right after Thanksgiving Break, and two weeks before the final draft). If you can't work on it over break, turn it on on the 22nd, before break. During the week after Thanksgiving I will meet with each student individually to figure out what must be done to get the best possible final product.

The final draft is due on Monday, December 13. Late papers will be penalized signficantly, if they are accepted at all!

These are the topics chosen by this semester's students:

And some from previous semesters: