Ethnography
In seven weeks, I conducted seven separate field observations in two different gym settings. Amid the clanks of weights, metal on metal, and the grunts and groans of young men, I conducted detailed observations and compiled a series of field notes. My research focus was on differences between age, gender, and socio-economic class with regards to attitudes towards working out, gym culture, and the use of supplements including steroids. One of the research settings was Dean's Gym in Murrysville. The other gym was the Power Center at Duquesne University. At both places, my role was as active participant-observer. As a member of one of the gyms and a former member of the other, I had an in-group status but was also able to objectively seek information from demographic cohorts different from my own. Informants ranged from young to old, male to female.
One of the primary research questions I asked was, "Why do people go to the gym?" After all, there are many other avenues for exercise including solitary walks, runs, and bicycle riding. There must be a social component to the gym culture. Thus, I hypothesized that gyms offer a social component to exercising, and that many people purposely go to the gym because it offers the opportunity for social interaction. This approach is different from my own, because I have always worked out as if there is no one else in the room.
My experiences over the past seven weeks show that many gym-goers appreciate the interactions they have with other people at the gym; for some, it was one of the primary reasons they go. The social reasons for going to the gym differed somewhat according to age, gender, and socio-economic class. In general, I concluded that older people are more apt to go to the gym for social reasons than young people. However, at least one young person...
Having experienced firsthand the reprieve his profession offers, the barometer of his success is simple, if there was no pain and no lingering side effects, then there was success. Surgical Technologist I was also able to interview the surgical technologist. She occupied many of the duties I had always believed were held by the head nurse. In fact the role of the surgical technologist entails not only having a detailed knowledge
Reflection/Conclusion feel I learned a lot personally from this event. One thing I learned is that when tragedy strikes, people often react quickly. People offer support in any way then can, and demonstrate their support through various means, whether that is by wearing a t-shirt supporting a cause, by hugging another or sending money, or by sticking closer with friends and family to remind them of how much you love
Ethnography, case study, narrative, phenomenology, grounded theory Ethnography The qualitative research format of the ethnography began in the discipline of anthropology. Ethnography "is a long-term investigation of a group (often a culture) that is based on immersion and, optimally, participation in that group" (Ethnography, 2013, Colorado State University Writing Guides.). The researcher embraces his or her outsider perspective and contrasts his or her own responses to participating in group rituals and
Human Trafficking: An Ethnographic Study Opening Statement Human trafficking is not a problem that only affects developing nations. Every nation and region of the globe is plighted by the problem of human trafficking, including the world's wealthiest countries. In fact, it is often the wealthy nations that provide the lucrative market that drives human trafficking to begin with. "Human trafficking represents perhaps the worst form of labor exploitation and can be regarded
The former might be, 'What specific...' [while] Less structure might be exemplified by: "Please respond to the following in your own words: I....'" (Dereshiwsky, 1999) in addition: adding some open-ended items such as these to a more traditionally scaled quantifiable survey, such as one with Likert-scaled attitudinal items, and/or "check/off" questions on demographic background variables, is a good way to make the survey "multimethod" in nature. This is because you'd
Mixed Methods Research Two important aspects of qualitative research relates to the role of the researcher and the manner in which knowledge is viewed. These two aspects fundamentally distinguish qualitative research from quantitative research (Creswell, 2014). In qualitative research, the researcher seeks to cultivate a closer relationship with the subject(s). This means that the researcher focuses on a single or a small number of subjects, and utilises designs that allow closer
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