Group Assignment
First exercise - Passive Observation – in groups - submit by Sept 12th
Passive Observation - Observation in a Public Place
Go to a public setting and carry out a one-hour observation. Choose a place you think will be fun and interesting. Observe and record movements, interactions, sights, sounds, spatial arrangements, and anything else that strikes you. Be an observer only -- it should be the sort of place where you can sit and take notes without bothering anyone. Examples of this sort of place are: train station or major T-bane station public park outdoor gathering place, e.g. Aker Brygge waiting room post office airport market, farmer’s market or other gym, e.g. Domus Atletika museum courtroom café, cantina, fast food restaurant bar, nightclub computer center
Describe as much as you can about the setting. Write (put) down your observations on the spot, then write up longer versions immediately afterward. Do not interview anyone. If someone asks you what you are doing, tell them that it’s an assignment in a course about field research.
You should spend at least twice as long writing up fieldnotes as you did observing, perhaps longer. You will be surprised at the amount of detail you can record in one hour!
Your field notes should be at least 3 typed pages and should include your name; the type of setting and the date and time of your observations; why you chose this setting; a rough map and detailed description of the setting (a verbal "snapshot"); a description of what you saw; and finally, your interpretations of what you saw. The description should be who, what, when, where -- and perhaps why, although be careful about too detailed explanations of motivations. Conclude with a brief interpretation about at least one organizing principle of the setting. What patterns do you see? What deviations from the general order do you see? Are some people acting differently or being treated differently than others?
The purpose of the exercise is to get you started in
Passive Observation - Observation in a Public Place
Go to a public setting and carry out a one-hour observation. Choose a place you think will be fun and interesting. Observe and record movements, interactions, sights, sounds, spatial arrangements, and anything else that strikes you. Be an observer only -- it should be the sort of place where you can sit and take notes without bothering anyone. Examples of this sort of place are: train station or major T-bane station public park outdoor gathering place, e.g. Aker Brygge waiting room post office airport market, farmer’s market or other gym, e.g. Domus Atletika museum courtroom café, cantina, fast food restaurant bar, nightclub computer center
Describe as much as you can about the setting. Write (put) down your observations on the spot, then write up longer versions immediately afterward. Do not interview anyone. If someone asks you what you are doing, tell them that it’s an assignment in a course about field research.
You should spend at least twice as long writing up fieldnotes as you did observing, perhaps longer. You will be surprised at the amount of detail you can record in one hour!
Your field notes should be at least 3 typed pages and should include your name; the type of setting and the date and time of your observations; why you chose this setting; a rough map and detailed description of the setting (a verbal "snapshot"); a description of what you saw; and finally, your interpretations of what you saw. The description should be who, what, when, where -- and perhaps why, although be careful about too detailed explanations of motivations. Conclude with a brief interpretation about at least one organizing principle of the setting. What patterns do you see? What deviations from the general order do you see? Are some people acting differently or being treated differently than others?
The purpose of the exercise is to get you started in