cyber
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cyber.docxThe next step in your research project, due Wednesday at noon, will be to conduct a cyber-ethnography. In some ways, conducting your cyber-ethnography will be similar to conducting your auto-ethnography. But it is different in important ways, too. While writing your auto-ethnography, you were reporting and reflecting upon your own experience with your chosen technology. By contrast, writing your cyber-ethnography will involve reporting and reflecting upon the experiences of other users of that technology. You’ll recall that ethnography is a form of research in which researchers immerses themselves in a culture, both observing what happens there and taking part in it in it themselves, in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of what that culture means for the people who belong to it. In a cyber-ethnography, the researcher immerses him- or herself in an online culture, experiencing it first-hand, reporting on the interactions that they witness there, and reflecting upon what those interactions mean.
Instructions for completing the assignment
1. How will you conduct your cyber-ethnography? You will choose one of two ways by which to conduct your cyber-ethnography: directly or indirectly. Choose the way that best suits the tech you’re writing about.
· Direct public observation: If the tech you’re writing about is such that you can observe other users publicly interacting with it and one another online, then take notes on the interactions you observe in that public online space. For example, if you’re writing about an online game such as World of Warcraft, you can report on what you see and hear there while playing the game yourself. Or if you’re writing about Facebook, you can write about what you read in one of Facebook's public groups or pages.
· Indirect public observation: If the tech you’re writing about is such that you cannot observe other users publicly interacting, then you will take notes on what other users are saying about their experience of that tech in an online public forum. For example, if you’re writing about the iPhone, then you can search for an iPhone users discussion group on Google Groups or Reddit, etc., and then report on the conversations that you find there. So, too, if you’re writing about, say, an online dating app, or Bitcoin, or Netflix, or any tech that doesn’t include its own public online space wherein users interact.
Please note that, per University policy, your cyber-ethnography can only take place in fully public online spaces. If there is any expectation of privacy on the part of the people in that space, then you cannot do your cyber-ethnography there. This means that you cannot, for example, write about your Facebook friends’ non-public posts, nor can you write about activity in closed discussion groups or groups that require a moderator’s approval to join. The online space you observe must be fully public — no exceptions. If you’re uncertain about the space you want to use, then email me right away. Do NOT assume that you can just use whatever semi-public or private group you find, then say "Whoops!" later, and that it'll be alright. Trust me: It won't.
2. How will you find a public online space to observe? If you’re working with tech that allows you to make direct public observations, then you no doubt already know one place to go. However, finding public discussion forums requires a little more work, this website (Links to an external site.) may help. You might also try looking for a (fully) public Facebook (Links to an external site.) groups about your tech, which you can do by typing appropriate keywords into the Facebook search bar, clicking “Find all people and pages named [keywords],” and then clicking the “Groups” tab (under “More”). And you can also search for groups and discussion threads on Reddit (Links to an external site.) . 3. What should you do when you get to your space? Observe, observe, and observe -- and take notes and notes and notes. But, unless it’s required (as in an online video game) don’t interact with the other users or the site. Don’t add to the Reddit thread or post to the Facebook group, etc. Just watch/listen/read and take notes for your field report. 4. What should go into your field report? Follow roughly the same format you’ve been using for your auto-ethnographic diary. Spend a few hours in your space, and then write a roughly 750-word piece in which you (1) describe what you saw and/or heard and/or read and (2) reflect upon links between what you saw/heard/read in your space and what you’ve been reading about in your library and internet research: How do your observations connect to the texts in your annotated bibliography? How do your experience speak to your research question? What new thoughts or questions came up for you? You're going to need to spend at least 3 or 4 hours in your chosen space, but whether that's all together or spread out is up to you: Do what seems appropriate to the space. So, to recap, here’s what you need to do to complete this assignment:
· Spend a few hours in the cyberspace you chose to observe, taking notes (in a document named Last name, first name - WRIT 1133 - Cyber-ethnography.
· Write and submit your field report by noon on Wednesday, 7/6.
Your field report ought to be 750 words in length, with no fluff, carefully revised and proofread for maximum coherence and clarity.
Links in part 2
Discussion Forum:
Face Book:
Reddit:
