Assignment 2: LASA 1: Naturalistic Observations and Evaluation

  Assignment 2: LASA 1: Naturalistic Observations and Evaluation

Assignment 2: LASA 1: Naturalistic Observations and Evaluation

Conducting an ethnographic study is a fun way of gathering research about your social environment. You may have done an ethnography before without really being aware of it. In a small way, this assignment recreates what ethnographers do when they visit a new community to conduct research.

Complete the following:
Observation

• Choose a restaurant, library, mall, dining hall, coffee      shop, or similar public location. Plan to spend a minimum of two hours at      the location. You will visit this location twice, for a minimum of four      hours total. Keep in mind that if you should find one of your peers in the      establishment at the same time when you are there, do not interrupt      him/her and do not do the assignment at the same time.
• Document what occurs at this chosen location: THE CHOSEN LOCATION SHOULD BE McDonald.  

• Describe the establishment.
• Analyze the interactions between people.

Next, write a paper documenting and analyzing your observations of the location.

Observation Notes

Your observation notes should specifically include the following:

• Name and location of the establishment
• Dates and times you were there
• Place where you stood/sat and when you did your      research
• Description of the physical characteristics of the      inside and outside of the establishment (e.g. brick or concrete structure,      paint color, seating arrangements)
• Number and types of people visiting the establishment      while you were there (age, sex, type of clothing, probable occupations,      ethnicity, etc.)
• Document interactions such as: 

• specific nature of the interactions that take place in       the establishment among customers, between customers and staff, and among       staff
• types of languages used in the establishment and by       whom
• any strange or unusual behavior

Analysis Summary

Include the following in your analysis:

• Comparison of similarities and differences of this      establishment and other similar establishments you know about
• Nature of the treatment of customers in the      establishment
• Relationships between customers and workers
• Any behavior that surprised you or was contrary to your      expectations
• How it felt to do the research
• Most difficult aspects of the research
• What you found most interesting about the research

In your analysis, be sure to draw upon your observations to support your conclusions.

Appendix

In the appendix of your paper, include the following:

• A sketch of the layout of the establishment (You can      draw in a computer program, like Paint that comes preloaded on most PCs      and insert it into your Word file.)
• Transcription of your notes

Write a 3-4-page paper in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M3_A2.doc.

By the due date assigned, deliver your assignment to the Submissions Area.

Grading Rubric

Grading CriteriaMaximum Points

Documented observations for a total of two hours, at two different times in a public establishment on all required details such as dates, times, interactions.

Drew conclusions based on observations.Wrote an analysis summary on all required details such as relationships observed, your reactions, comparison to other establishments.

Created a sketch of the layout of the establishment as an appendix.

Writing Criteria
Organization
Usage and Mechanics
APA Elements 

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