Week 07: March 7

Option: Case Study OR Ethnographic Observation

Consider a Case Study.

Given your research topic, what would make a good candidate for a Case Study that would illuminate your research question?

You should consider and address the following:

What are the challenges to finding an appropriate case study?

What might a case study tell you that other methods might not?

How representative is the case you chose?

In what ways could a case study expand your theoretical understanding of the question?

What are the challenges for generalizing conclusions from your case study? Would using multi-cited ethnography help?

OR:

Perform an ethnographic observation in a physical public space (i.e. not on-line, not in a private space).

Your observation should last 30 minutes to 1 hour.

You should choose a public space in which you can casually observe the public interacting with their environment in interesting ways.  For example, tourists in Times Square reacting to billboards, people in MOMA reacting to art, or people in the Apple Store trying out new devices.

Approach the observation of this space with a general research question (which may or may not relate to other assignments).  For example, Which things do tourists take pictures of, and which things do they want pictures of themselves in? Do people get closer to paintings or sculptures in a museum? Do younger people spend more or less time testing iPhones than older people?

Describe what you saw.  How do the events you saw inform your understanding of your research question?