(In my experience of the film Nation, I paid attention to the role of space and community in determining the daily experiences of people. The setting presents a community where various groups of people engage in shared environments, although not all people would have equal access or control. Certain spaces are more advanced and structured, whereas others look abandoned, which is a difference in resources and social standing.
I also noted the way people move in such spaces, as well as the way their behavior varies according to their surroundings. At certain moments, individuals were relaxed and assured, which indicated that a person felt part of the community. Others, on the contrary, appeared to be less brave or more limited, which can be interpreted as being excluded or powerless in society. These differences were also reflected in the manner in which people communicated, such as the tone of voice and body language.
Another indicator of economic inequality was the maintenance of certain areas as compared to others, which were on the verge of deterioration. Such variations indicate bigger structural problems like inequality in access to resources and opportunities. In general, the surroundings contributed significantly to influencing the social interactions, relationships, and opportunities open to people in the community.)
Assignment Overview
You will select your best participant observation fieldnote based on a film in weeks 12, 13, 14. (SEE FIELDNOTE ABOVE) The goal is to gather data that helps answer a guiding question related to one or more of the course themes above.
- Settings you can observe within the films: workplace, home, social gatherings, classrooms, online communities, protests, local organizations, etc.
- Important: This is not an interviewyou are observing interactions as they naturally occur.
Guiding Question Examples
Your guiding question should connect to the themes for Weeks 12-14. Examples:
- How does gentrification affect social interactions in my neighborhood?
- How do rural and urban experiences shape activism in local communities?
- How do social media beauty communities reinforce or challenge gender norms?
- How do technology and race intersect in online influencer communities?
You will not be interviewing people but rather observing and interacting to gather info to help you answer your guiding question.
Required Components of the Fieldnote
Your fieldnote should be structured into four main sections (
Jottings, Description, Analysis, Reflection), plus a coding section. Each section should be 1 page double spaced (4 double spaced pages total, ~1000 words). Please compile all sections of the fieldnote into one document that you will submit via Kritik’s “create” stage.
1. Jottings
- Quickly record observations during or immediately after your 30-minute observation.
- Use bullet points to note everything you notice: sights, sounds, smells, interactions, behaviors.
- Include small detailsit doesnt have to be polished.
Length: page single spaced / 1 page double spaced
2. Description
- Turn your jottings into a more detailed narrative.
- Include all five senses if possible (what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, touched).
- Focus on how the observation relates to your guiding question.
Length: page single spaced / 1 page double spaced
3. Analysis
- Use at least 3 course readings (including 1 from the week you submit your fieldnote).
- Connect your observations to themes from your readings.
- Structure your analysis as follows:
- Create sub-sections for each theme you coded (see coding section).
- Use specific observations from your jottings/description to illustrate the theme.
- Reference 3 readings to explain or challenge your observations (paraphrase + in-text citation).
- Answer these questions:
- What do your observations reveal about course themes?
- How do different perspectives shape understanding of local/global issues?
- Does your observation confirm or challenge the readings?
- Works Cited: Include at least 3 course readings in . Use specific and accurate page numbers in your in-text citations.
Length: page single spaced / 1 page double spaced
4. Reflection
- Discuss your personal experience of doing this observation:
- What did you learn?
- What surprised you?
- What would you do differently next time?
- How did the assignment affect your understanding of the course themes?
Length: page single spaced / 1 page double spaced
5. Coding Your Fieldnote
- Identify 4-5 central themes in your observation and highlight them using colors.
- Examples of course-related themes:
- Local/global activism
- Rural vs. urban experiences
- Gentrification
- Religion, queerness, sexuality, Islam
- Beauty and online communities
- Technology and gender
- Race/gender/influencers
- Local and transnational feminisms
- International politics
Coding Tips:
- Be specific: e.g., instead of gender, code women restricted from leadership roles.
- Highlight only relevant detailsnot everything.
- Similar themes to your weeks 9-11 interview codes can be reused if appropriate.
Submission
- Submit your fieldnote as one document in Kritik “create” stage, including:
- Jottings
- Description
- Analysis
- Reflection
- Coding/Color legend
- Works Cited page
Objective
- By completing this assignment, you will be able to:
Observe and describe social interactions in various settings (workplaces, online communities, social gatherings) and relate them to core sociological concepts such as community, space, activism, gender, and religion. (Understand, Apply)
Analyze participant observation data by coding for 45 themes and connecting these observations to multiple course readings, demonstrating the ability to situate social phenomena within historical, political, local, and global contexts. (Analyze)
Apply sociological theories and concepts to interpret observed behaviors and interactions, incorporating intersectional perspectives on race, gender, sexuality, class, and colonialism. (Apply, Analyze)
Critically reflect on the research process and findings, discussing personal learning, challenges, and the implications of observations for understanding local and global social issues. (Evaluate, Reflect)
Synthesize observation, analysis, and reflection into a coherent fieldnote document, integrating multiple readings, coded themes, and a guiding research question to produce an original interpretation. (Create)
Engage ethically and responsibly with course materials and virtual observation, adhering to academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism or AI-assisted writing. (Global Engagement, Academic Integrity - Purpose:
Observe interactions in a selected film to explore course themes (e.g., community, gentrification, activism, religion, online spaces, gender, sexuality) and answer a guiding research question. This is not an interviewfocus on natural interactions.
Observation Settings:
Workplace, home, social gatherings, classrooms, online communities, protests, local organizations, etc.
Fieldnote Structure (JDAR + Coding):
Jottings: Quick observations during or immediately after the 30-minute observation (bullet points, sights, sounds, behaviors). (~1 page double-spaced)Description: Detailed narrative of observations, engaging all senses, linked to your guiding question. (~1 page)Analysis: Connect observations to at least 3 course readings (including one from the submission week). Organize by 45 coded themes, answer questions about course themes, perspectives, and reading alignment. Include a Works Cited page. (~1 page)Reflection: Personal learning, surprises, next steps, and connections to course themes. (~1 page)Coding: Identify 45 central themes and highlight them with colors, with a clear color legend. Be specific and relevant.Submission:
Compile all sections into one document and submit
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