Ethnography

The second qualitative project is an ethnography. This method is designed to allow the researcher to make observations about a group of people in a social setting over a period of time. The focus of the research question should have a communication angle to it. For example, how does the formality of a setting, the library vs Oliver’s or the gym for example, affect communication patterns of students or faculty/staff? Are there differences between males and females and the way in which they interact with their instructors? How does the nature of the lecture setting impact on the behavior of a class?
The research project should take the form of a formal journal report. It must include a description of the group of individuals you intend to observe, what role you intend to take, what setting you have chosen and how you intend to access it. In total, you must include analysis of a minimum of 4 different observational time periods of a minimum of 30 minutes each.