Final Research Paper

 

 

 

Celitha Edwards

Final Research Paper

Fresno State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

Literature Review

Patricia Hill Collins: Black Women's Standpoint

Patricia Hill Collins chose to explore the multifaceted study of Black Women's Standpoint. Black women's standpoint is the idea that all black women, despite their individual attributes, share a common understanding of their plight in the world (Dillon,2010). Black women lack the power of political influence to effect any change to their current situation. Black women are involved in a constant ever-present struggle against the powers that control the images of black women.  Black women are crushed between two worlds that hold insidious desires for them.

Although race is not an issue in the black community, sexism is at the forefront of issues effecting the black woman.  Collins goes on to examine the second world in which black women must navigate through the traps set for them (Dillon, 2010). In the alternative world of white privilege, black women are trampled upon and subjected to degrading imagery. The controlling images shape not only society's view of black women but, distorts the reflection they have of themselves. The controlling images of black women have grown to include 4 distinct roles; The mammy, matriarch, welfare mother and hot mama (Dillon,2010).

The mammy is the agency depleted, docile black woman whom provides care for affluent Caucasian family units. The matriarch is overbearing, she is the black woman that has taken the position as the alpha in all of her relationships, especially romantic. She is noted to be a neglectful caregiver of her young. The welfare mother is a concept that perceives black women as uneducated, unskilled and lacking motivation to be gainfully employed. Instead, she reaps the benefits of government assistance through the birthing of several children. The hot mama is a perversion of sexuality. She is envisioned as a woman dressed scantily, bearing her breast and buttocks. She has no other desires than to be sexually gratified (Dillon,2010)

 

Integrating Dark Humor and Compassion: Identities and Presentations of Self in the Front and Back Regions of Hospice

Hospice care workers are responsible for providing care to terminal patients. They accommodate patients with compassionate care until they die. Hospice workers must perform their duties in a respectful manner in the front stage, however they are more jovial and crass in the back stage (Cain 2012). The workers are able to perform their duties successfully because they can blow off steam in the back stage with their colleagues. These 2 regions balance out the work experience. Hospice workers make jokes because it is therapeutic for them. When we consider the setting of a hospice we can understand why laughter and comradery is important. The hospice workers speak of fellow caregivers that have committed suicide (Cain 2012) These suicides point to the importance of hospice workers providing the proper care to their patients while also practicing self-care.

The front stage is more of a detailed position than the backstage. The front stage of hospice care includes not only the patient care, but the care of the families as they prepare for the passing of their loved one (Cain 2012) The article shows the way in which hospice care workers provide guidance to the families of patients that remain in the home. They are also responsible for communicating patients' needs to their families when they come to the facility. The front stage carries several burdens that is why the backstage of hospice care workers if filled with off humor.

The backstage however, does serve a dual purpose. The backstage produces a relaxed environment where hospice workers can not only laugh together but, discuss ways in which they can improve job efficacy in the front stage.

Marx: Ideology and Power

   Karl Marx views society through the lens of conflict theory. Conflict theory showcases the struggle for power and the means of production. He sees that the working class is being exploited and alienated by the bourgeoisie, workers do not make enough wages to consume the products they were making. The conflict theory makes the assumption that the laborers wielded the true power because of their skills and their massive population (Dillon,2010) Yet they remain weak because they lack the means of production. Their power is crippled by their need to make wages to survive (Dillon,2010) Marx beckons the working class to see themselves as powerful and band together to fight the oppressive social class structure. It is through this class consciousness that he expected a revolution to begin. Though Marx makes compelling arguments for revolution he is unsuccessful.  The people are too afraid to abandon their adopted ideology and embrace their power.

An ideology is the way in which we think. Ideology has a stronghold on the way we view ourselves and others. Ideology can silence us, to not question the government or our way of life (Dillon,2010). We are socialized to view life as it is and not how it could be. The western world is based heavily on consumerism (Dillon,2010). Capitalism thrives on the underpaid worker and the overpriced products which we consume. We are all taught that we gain our self-value form the material objects which we can possess.

Though Marx warns against the effects of the industrial revolution, he does see the necessity of consumerism (Dillon,2010) However, he disagrees with the unhealthy relationship that is forming between people and objects. As people became overwhelmingly concerned with material goods, interpersonal relationships in mankind diminished (Dillon,2010).

The Nature and Significance of the Self

Symbolic interactionism is the ideal that everything we do, say see or consume is a symbol (Sandstrom, Martin and Fine,2003). Through these symbols and their applied meanings, we are able to define not only ourselves but the world around. The self is a developed through time based on the experiences we have and the reactions we display in our individual settings. There are three basic principles on which the theory anchors itself; the idea that self is a social process, we are involved in a social structure and we arrange ourselves in a way to command dramatic appeal (2003).

We base our interactions with others on our own personal definitions. The article highlights that even a simple gesture can be understood to have various meanings depending on how we choose to define a set of contextual evidence (2003). Children have agency, which is apparent in their play. As they develop a healthy imagination they began to recognize distinguished roles and from there their self-identity begins to form (2003). Childhood must be respected as a legitimate time of self-realization.

The dramaturgical perspective compares our life to a theatrical production with all of the necessary parts for a successful performance. Goffman assumes that we all play a role in a performance for impression management. He claims that impression management involves masking and flaunting our attributes according to the expected script, in order to manipulate others opinions of us (2003). Impression management inhibits us from every learning ourselves or others, that we never truly learn ourselves or others. We except the terms of this role play in this version of social reality.

How we define who and how we are is contingent on 4 different modes; A, B, C and D (2003). We see ourselves as physical objects so we highlight our mot dashing physical attributes in Mode A. The social Rules we except define us in Mode B.  Mode C encompasses our feelings and the actions that we display. Mode D is a self-defining abstract layer or ourselves.

Chapter 8 :Symbolic Interactionism

            Chapter 8 highlights the main ideas of symbolic interactionist, Erving Goffman.  Goffman's theory of dramaturgical perspective asserts that we are characters performing a prescribed role in our setting (Dillon, 2010). He explains that people modify their behavior dependent upon the situation and also the proximity of another person (2010). The performance we give is graded by the audience for accuracy and believability, not authenticity. Face to face interactions require a greater deal of commitment to the role. As we interact face to face with others, we have to be mindful of our body language. Body language is essential in face to face contact.  Body language can convey a message contrary to your verbal cues.

The Roles we play are bestowed upon us by others, or we define these roles based on what we believe is socially appropriate for the setting. We involve ourselves in the face work of gaining others approval. People incorporate props to further settle into our role. Props are tangible symbols which we use to solidify our position in a role (2010).  These roles are how we maintain our impression management. We control the way others view us by controlling the way we perform our roles in front of them. Once we are aware of the expected behavior of our roles we act accordingly so that we are seen in a positive way in our social interactions. 

 In the front stage, we allow others to see us perform to the best of our abilities masking everything about us that does not fit the script (2010). The backstage is the place where fellow actors can feel more comfortable to be themselves.  However, the backstage is not free, from expected behaviors. Any time we interact with others, front stage or back stage, there are rules of behavior.

 

 

Introduction

I chose to conduct my ethnographic research on a college student veteran organization. This organization strives to assist veterans, as they transition into the college setting, continue onto graduate programs or enter the civilian work force. This veteran's organization offers students an academic counselor that works exclusively for the veterans. The counselor's duties include; helping veterans with college applications, choosing their proper classes and meeting any educational accommodations the veteran may request.

This group, with the exception of two staff members, are all military veterans or come from a military family. This gives them a unique perspective into the unique needs that veterans have.   I observed this organization over a course of three weeks. I chose this group because as a Navy veteran, that attended community college and transferred to a four year university, I can attest to the importance of having a veterans group such as the one I observed.  

My interview participants were gathered from my study group. After observing them and taking field notes I approached the most welcoming candidates for an interview. Everyone was receptive of my request. Many of them were more than overjoyed to be given the opportunity to speak about their veteran organization. I attempted to add variety into the people that I would interview.  Each respondent held a diverse position in the organization, they also fit into very distinct demographics. My organization was able to freely speak with me and give me amazing insight into their comradery.

I chose to study a veteran's college group. As many groups do, this group has several sources. In my research I was able together various sources of information on my group. My group uses social media and print to spread their mission. The way in which they present themselves to the general public and any potential members.

 

Methods

Summary (3 pages)

Ethnographic research is best utilized when a study on behavior and human interaction is needed. When beginning an ethnographic research, you must first establish the proper setting. Setting appropriateness has a great bearing on the ethnographic research study and the expected outcomes. One very important factor to consider is a public or private space. It is not appropriate to conduct research in a private setting because this could produce potential dangers for the interviewer or interviewee. If either party feels endangered or overall uncomfortable, the emotions of the subjects involved will be concentrated on the setting rather than the ethnographic research therefore, tainting the ethnographic research process.

            When choosing the subject for an ethnographic research you will want to choose something that interest you and the potential subjects that you will be studying. You may choose to study a group that you are already a member of. This choice comes with its pros and cons. Being a part of a group gives you automatic access to the backstage of that group, however it hinders you from maintaining objectivity in you research. Remaining objective is paramount in ethnographic research. 

The way in which we present ourselves to the group is important. We have been taught that appearances and nonverbal communication are the first things we notice of each other. In the pursuit of research, we want to always present ourselves in a manner that is befitting of the situation. The initial contact made with a potential study group is handled by the gatekeeper of the group. The gatekeeper serves a as a public liaison and guard between the group and the general public. The gate keeper is placed strategically in power to maintain order and a healthy boundary between the group and others.  Key informants are those individuals which become your point of contact for the group. They may insist that you do   a go along, tour narrative or shadow them to learn more about their group.

Qualitative interviews give us insight into the most intricate corners of your research group. Qualitative interviews attempt to draw on the experiences of the most average people. As stated previously ethnographic research delves into the interaction between humans and their induvial behavior and motivations of that behavior. Whereas qualitative interviews are used to extract information on an individual's biography and personal accounts (Warren, Karner 2014).

The most difficult component of qualitative interviewing is the topic. Choosing the topic for your questions is difficult, because you must try to anticipate the best way to interview you subject for the most information.

You will then place your raw data and fieldnotes into a program, which will produce quantitative data from your qualitative interviews. When conducting these interviews, you must be sure of question placement. You never want to begin with your most difficult questions in the beginning (Warren, Karner 2014). Beginning with the simplest questions is best. This will allow the subject to feel more comfortable with you. As you continue your interview you will begin to probe.

Probing is the process of asking follow up questions based on a respondent's answer. Probing allows you to get more in-depth content on your subject. Probing is accepted and encouraged, however leading questions are not allowed (Warren, Karner 2014). By leading your subject to a certain conclusion, you distort the data and risk losing valuable insight into what the subject truly thinks.

Sometimes they may divulge very personal aspects of their life. This is why informed consent is imperative. The subjects must be made aware that their interview will be shared with other researchers. Though they may desire to share very intimate details of their life with you, a good qualitative interviewer will not entertain any type of traumatic experience that the subject may have encountered (Warren, Karner 2014). Ethically this is unacceptable.  These interviews can be conducted on groups of people in a focus group. In a focus group, the interviewer takes on the role as mediator to facilitate the open discussion, taking place amongst members of a group.  This is why theoretic sampling may be best for the research. Theoretic sampling calls on the experiences of individuals which meet a given criteria, designed exclusively for the research. (Warren, Karner 2014).

Cultural studies try to gauge the effect that media has on individuals and groups.

Though historical documents can give us a valuable view into the past, they come with a disadvantage. As you look further back into time you will see the variety of respondents diminish (Warren, Karner 2014).  Throughout the years some groups of people were not granted access to certain places therefore their presence is meniscal.

 According to the reading, different forms of information carry different meanings and therefore produce different emotions. Words and numbers are vastly different in their effect on individuals in comparison to pictures, regardless if they are photos or drawings (Warren, Karner 2014). You must carefully choose the form of technology that will be best for analyzing the content of our data. As you continue to study your data you should see patterns and themes begin to appear. (Warren, Karner 2014). This will help you to focus on what trends are most common among the subjects being studied.

As you prepare to combine your findings you must ask yourself what direction you want your research to flow. This question is best answered by what, how and why you want to study this particular cultural topic (Warren, Karner 2014). You want to understand what it is that you are attempting to study. Doing back ground research can help you learn about your group.  How will you approach your subjects and the given information? Proper preparation of questions and ideas will assist you with the "how" of your project. The why is a very personal question which you must answer yourself. What is it that interest you about this group you want to study?

I was able to observe my organization in various settings, such as; their informational booth, on campus office and recreational spaces. I began studying my group through observation and ended with active participation. The first week of observations I remained in a Martian Role.  The Martian role enabled me to blend in and observe everyone without them feeling my presence.  People are more candid once they forget that someone is evaluating their behavior. As I grew more familiar with the subjects, I took on the convert role. The convert role was advantageous for my research also. The convert role allows everyone to get to know me more. As I interacted with them, for the last two weeks, they began to reveal their back stage.

I took detailed field notes of everything that I observed. I prefer to take field notes by hand so that I can be in closer proximity to the subjects being studied. By using hand written notes, I was able to reflect on my notes once the observation is complete. I used my filed notes to decipher and assess the theories displayed during my observations. The theoretical concepts I found most common were; Thick Description, Front Stage/ Back Stage, Meaningful action, Roles and Symbolic Interaction.

 I then used those theories as Nodes in Nvivo. I transcribed my field notes into Nvivo. Next, I ran two queries'; word frequency and text search. My word frequency enabled me to analyze the most frequently used words in my field notes. I also produced a word cloud, included in the Analysis section of this research.  

As a researcher I feel confident that I utilized the rest research methods. By gaining access to the backstage, I gained valuable insight into the intimate corners of my organization.  Access to the backstage is imperative in an ethnographic research study.

I conducted a total of three interviews. I was able to interview two work study students and a counselor from the observed organization. By using purposive sampling, I was able to extract the interview candidates that I believed would give the most in depth answers. I based my selection on their seniority, position and personal demographics.  I chose to interview a black male navy veteran work study in his 40's, which held the position as president for the organization and a white female army veteran work study in her early 20's, she did not hold a leadership role in the organization. In addition to these two work studies, I also interviewed a student tutor for the veteran organization. The student tutor was also a white female in her early 20's however she was not a veteran work study.

            I utilized Nvivo to produce queries.  I began the process by importing my transcriptions into Nvivo. After importing my transcripts, I was then able to run a word frequency and text search query.  The word frequency query allowed me to get a quick view of the most prevalent words and phrases used by the interviewees.  The word frequency is an exhaustive list of all words used in the interviews. The text search query enabled me to focus on only the top 5 words that occurred most frequently. I feel confident that my selection of interviewees was appropriate for gaining detailed insight into my research group.

I searched the internet for any potential sources. My search was very fruitful. I was able to retrieve several online articles and social media pages dedicated to my group. As I was searching for sources I developed a focus for what I would look for. I began to categorize my research findings. My categories were based on perspective and intent. The perspective by which the source was developed was key in understanding the numerous views of the group. The intent of each source was either to recruit, educated or motivate. I then transcribed all of my sources. After transcribing my sources, I began to sort them out by using Nvivo.

I uploaded my transcripts into the Nvivo system which will assist me in my qualitative research. I then ran 2 queries; word text search and word frequency which produced a word cloud. The most frequently used words were university, services, student, states, and national. As I read through the transcriptions I began to sort them into different nodes. They were placed in 1 of 5 nodes; claims, warrants, ideologies, conclusions and framing.

 I believe I chose the 5 best nodes to sort my data. These nodes allow me to identify what the group considers to be legitimate issue that must be addressed. I am able to see what their desired course of action is as well as an explicit guideline of how they will implement the necessary changes to advance their group and its members.

Analysis

 Ethnographic

     Thick Description

Thick description is the process of taking objective field notes in research. Thick description is valuable in the way that it allows your audience to visualize the setting, the people and the overall feeling of the situation.  This form of description can draw on the observations you make, using all 5 senses. The quote below is a great example of thick description.

 Day 1: October 25, 2018

"The woman is on his right. She is sitting on a stool behind the booth. She has medium length thick straight black hair, parted on the right side. She is wearing minimal makeup. Her fingernails are painted a very delicate pink color. She is not wearing any jewelry other than the earrings in her ear. They are small stud earrings. She is wearing a burgundy sweater with a white t shirt underneath. She is also wearing jeans"

This quote describes the observations I made of the woman I was speaking with. This thick description leads me to make some assumptions about my study subject. Based on her choice of minimal makeup, subtle nail color and small earrings, it appears that she follows military regulations in her style of dress. She is the only female I observe on this day. Though she is the only female, she seems comfortable in her male dominated surrounding. She is sitting and also wearing casual clothing.

Day 2: November 1, 2018

"As I pier down the hall way I notice pink balloons and streamers. There is a table sitting outside of the back office. On the table is a triple layered chocolate birthday cake. Half of the birthday cake is missing. There are plates, eating utensils, tortilla chips and cups sitting on the desk next to the cake."

In this quote I am describing the office setting. I was able to assess that someone had a birthday party in the office, recently. I presumed the birthday celebration was for a female because of the pink balloons. Societal gender norms dictate pink as a feminine color. I noticed that over half of the cake had been eaten, so I concluded that several people joined in with the festivities. This was my first glimpse into the more personal side of the subjects I was studying

Day 4: November 9, 2018

"This recreational area is encased in glass pane windows. The carpet is a thin layer of outdated 70's print. The chairs are a steel grey color. The stench of stale air is heavy in the cool air of the bowling alley. The crashing sound of bowling balls striking pens is a symphonic melody. The cheers of the veterans vibrate against the glass pane windows, amplifying the crowd's cheers."

I utilized my senses for this thick description of the bowling alley.  Thick description is not restricted to only visual observations. As a researcher everything is important when conducting a study. Everything can have a direct or latent effect on the subject that you are studying. This quote gives details of the smell and feel of the air as well as the sounds that fills the air. The nostalgic carpet print and stale air are signs that the recreational space is in its original condition. By describing the glass panes you can better visualize the space.  The thick description of the crashing bowling balls and amplified cheers makes the quote "audible" to the reader.

         Front Stage/ Back Stage

Sociologist, Ervin Goffman discovered the dueling behaviors people display based on their audience. The front stage is the arena in which a person conforms to expected situational behaviors.  Formal behaviors and greetings are a staple of the front stage. The back stage is a more relaxed environment in which individuals are more personable. Their communication, verbal and nonverbal are different in the back stage. Though the back stage is more relaxed there are still expected behaviors.  The quote below intensifies the different behaviors performed in the different settings.

Day 2: November 1, 2018

 

"She begins to tell the person on the other end that the surprise party for the director was a success. She explains how the office got together and purchased the decorations and the food. They all gave a donation towards the cost of the birthday cake, decorations and utensils. They came in early to decorate the director's office, so that it would be a pleasant surprise for her."

This quote describes the intimate connection shared amongst the members of the group. They are professional in their front stage setting, the front office. However, they decided to throw a surprise birthday party for their president. They did not decorate the entire office because they must maintain their appearance of professionalism. They decorated the back office in an elaborate manner, which makes the two spaces appear to be completely different physical settings. Although these offices are only a few feet away. The back stage is a place where they celebrate each other's birthdays and accomplishments.

Day 3: November 6, 2018

"He looks at him in disbelief. He must now purchase a 20-dollar shirt to receive football tickets that were once free. Everyone is very quiet. Then the man begins to laugh. He informs him that he was only kidding and that they have plenty of free football tickets left."

In this quote we see that the student veterans are very comfortable with each other. Though this conversation took place in the front office, it is a display of backstage behavior. Their familiarity allows them to play pranks on each other.  By joking with the other students, they were able to make a connection. The office is a place where students can feel free to be themselves.

Day 3: November 6, 2018

"This man also asks about the free tickets. This time, the front desk student reaches into the desk draw and retrieves two tickets for the man. He thanks them for the tickets and exits the small office building."

This quote shows the difference in behavior based on the subjects. The man who entered the

 office was not a regular guest of the office. Since there was no prior connection

established between the man and the front desk assistant, their behavior was different. The front desk assistant had to remain professional and display the proper behavior expected in the front stage setting. Also the man politely thanked them for the tickets, this is formal behavior.

  Meaningful Action

Meaningful action is co-created. As people interact, they attach meaning to others actions. Meaningful action is established by the receiver. As people interact they take turns being the receiver and establishing the meaning to the actions they observe and reacting accordingly. Based on their interpretations of the attached meanings of others they react and social interaction s birth.  The quote below is an excellent example of the way someone's reaction changes based on the information that you give them and their interpretation of the given information.

Day 1: Oct 25, 2018

"I feel uncomfortable in this situation. I then tell them that I am a veteran. Once I divulged this information, the woman says "Oh wow, I already like her!" She then turns to me and ask why haven't I become involved in a veteran's group at my school?"

After I divulged to this group that I was a veteran their behavior changed instantly. They were no longer aloft, instead they accepted me into their group. They even invited me to become a member of such an organization. Prior to me verbalizing that I was a Navy veteran, their attitude towards me was less than appealing. I felt very uncomfortable. However, I understood that making them aware I was a veteran, they would automatically attribute certain characteristics to me that would make them more welcoming. This is obvious in the woman's response to me.

Day 4: November 9, 2018

"I reach for the medium green bowling ball and attempt to pick up the last two pins. I fail. Yet, everyone still cheers. I continue watching as the veteran's bowl. They cheer. They slap hands."

In this quote I am the one responsible for establishing the meaningful action. In the convert role I was able to better understand the comradery shared amongst these veterans. Though bowling is a competitive sport, the veterans have come together for the purpose of fun and fellowship. Even though I didn't do well bowling the crowd still cheered me on. In other situations their actions could have been misunderstood as rude and a display of poor sportsmanship.  I would have been embarrassed or upset by them clapping and etc., but I understood the meaning of their actions. They cheer and celebrate each player, they do this to encourage everyone.

Day 5: November 12, 2018

"One of the males greets her with a hello and stands up. As she crosses the room she shuffles the bags in her hand. She removes her book bag and places it on the floor. Then she sits in the now vacant seat once occupied by the man." 

            The meaningful action in this quote is between the man and woman. When the woman entered the office she was burdened with the weight of her book bag and additional books, carried by hand. All of the seats in the office were taken. The man did not verbally offer her his seat. Instead he simply got up. The woman took this gesture to mean she could sit there. Her reaction to this presumed act of chivalry was to except the empty seat.

           

         Role

"Role" is the term given to the different positions we occupy in alternating settings. In society, the positions that we hold come with expected behaviors.  The responsibilities that we have in our different roles are dependent on a case by case bases. The cultural context of the setting determines the responsibilities of the roles. The quote below exemplifies the way roles are very salient in our society.

Day1: October 25, 2018

"The woman then tells me that I should speak to her president or vice president. She then points to the tall man that has been standing there beside me the entire time, "He is the Vice President".

 

The role as vice president comes with the responsibility of gate keeping. As the vice president, he handles public relations in a formal manner. The vice president serves as a liaison for the organization.  He also passes information to the President.  The Vice Presidents role and responsibilities are understood by the members. The woman instructed me to speak with him because she knows that his duties include handling these type of request.

Day 3: November 1, 2018

"As they continue to mull over the student's situation, they come to the agreement that they will speak with her on tomorrow regarding her student status. They will encourage her to take classes at another college. She can raise her GPA and be accepted back into her desired program at her chosen University."

In their roles as the program director and the assistant director they are expected to construct plans for students. The role of the assistant program director is to meet with the director and report student affairs. Together, they develop solutions to the various issues student veterans encounter. As they sat in the office, they discussed how they could best assist their veteran student. This quote shows the subjects fulfilling their responsibilities to their students. Student success is the mission of this organization.

Day 3: November 6, 2018

"They are discussing potential fundraisers they can have to raise money for a new building fund. They have decided that they will take a portion of the proceeds from the t-shirt and sweatshirt sells to finance their building fund."

           

            In this quote I am describing a conversation amongst the group members. The role as a member of the organization comes with the responsibility of fund raising. The organization is striving to obtain a larger space to better serve their student population. The student members designed shirts and sweatshirts as a fund raiser. All roles in the organization have established responsibilities they are committed too.

Symbolic Interaction

Symbolic interaction is a sociological theory that expresses the way in which language, symbols and gestures have an understood meaning. Herbert Mead was instrumental in constructing the theory of symbolic interaction.  Symbolic interaction is how people are able to communicate a variety of emotions and thoughts. Mead recognized that people rely on symbols for interaction.

Day 1: October 25, 2018

"Some are wearing jackets and shirts showing their group insignias." 

 

            Each organization on this campus has an adopted symbol for their group.  They wear these symbols on their clothing and jewelry. The use of symbols for organizations is a very common practice. As the groups mesh together, the use of such insignias and color combinations helps them to differentiate themselves from one another.

Day 1:  October 25, 2018

"As students walk by, the different organizations will strike up a conversation with the students that seem approachable, they are either smiling or making direct eye contact with the representatives of each organization."

Smiling is a nonverbal way to communicate. Smiling is understood as a symbol of friendliness. The representatives look for these symbols before approaching prospects. Eye contact has been a symbol with many meanings. However, currently American society understands eye contact to be a symbol of respect and confidence. Also eye contact can be interpreted as an expression of interest in the organization.

Day 4: November 9, 2018

"One of the veterans reaches over and kisses a male on the lips after she lands a strike. I notice the wedding ring on her finger and the males. I assume that they are husband and wife by their body language and their elaborate rings placed on their left ring finger."

            Kissing is a symbol of familiarity and intimacy. The type of kiss and location symbolize the level of intimacy. Shared between people. The woman placed a kiss on the male's lips. That kiss is associated with romantic relationships. The most blatant symbol in this route is the wedding rings. In society the third finger on the left hand is recognized as the "ring finger". Being that they are both wearing wedding rings, I assume they are married. Since they shared a romantic kiss in public, I assume they are married to each other.

ANALYSIS (Interview)

Thick Description

Thick description is the process by which we observe or surroundings in depth.  Thick description is the bases on which researchers guide their study. As they make observations, they begin to process they're surroundings for meaning. Being observant of the most minute details can prove to be very advantageous.  The quotes that I have extracted out of the interviews will give an explicit example of thick description and how important it is in the process of ethnographic research.

"Basically, that means that I help the student's kind of start their GI bill processes, get them in contact with counselors, get them in contact with financial aid and other resources for them to make them more successful in college."

This quote is a thick description of the responsibilities of a student work study. This in-depth description of the intake process to college for veterans is amazing. There are several moving parts in the process of beginning college. Even more so for veterans that must transition from active duty to civilian status.

I'm here because of my major specializing in American sign language. I have worked in the past with people with learning disabilities, behavioral disabilities and PTSD. And so, I thought this would be a good place to put my skills to use and you meet really interesting people every day."

In this quote the student tutor is explaining why she chose to become the tutor for the veteran's organization. I allowed her to express her inner motives for her actions. This first-hand explanation of what thrives her is an example of very in-depth research.  She explains her interest in helping disabled students reach their goals. She has this same interest for her veteran students also.

"We always try and fit our lesson to each individual person. Like I said, we have a veteran tutor here, so if we have veterans come in, we usually send them to him because he can, you know, relate stories back to them, better relate more of their training to what we're trying to help them with. We have a military word of the day. We're always trying to connect with them more and more and find out more about them."

 

The tutor continues to further more explain, in great detail, the intricacy of being the tutor for this group. She adds that they have a military word of the day. The military word of the day is a way to bridge the gap between the civilian tutor and veteran students. They are able to exchange information about the different veteran culture.

Front Stage/ Back Stage

The front stage and back stage of this veteran organization is a multifaceted situation. They are students, veterans and members of the organization. They have several different stages and proscribed behaviors for each setting. The quotes below give a richer view into the various performances portrayed by the veteran student organization members.

They're more aligned with the process of switching from after school and the hardships that come with that come up with families and other responsibilities on top of school.

 

This quote directly focuses on the back-stage privileges that all military students share. They understand the duality of their current lifestyle changes. They are experiencing typical college transitions with the addition military transition in their personal life. The back stage of these veterans is full of intersectionality. They must address all issues, aside from school that the veteran may be experiencing.

 

"Um probably just the comradery in here. Like I always see and hear people laughing and telling stories about themselves. They bring in MRE once in a while for us to try."

 

In this quote the tutor is describing what she observes in the backstage of this organization. She first notices the shared comradery amongst the group.  She hears them laughing with each other in a relaxed setting. They also feel comfortable enough to share stories of their lives. They even include the tutor in their backstage festivities by offering her an MRE.

"The veteran organization has been able to help me out because I've been able to funnel and final all of the quirkiness about the schools and backdoor ways to get around things. Not circumvent them necessarily. Other ways to skin, the cat."

 

This is a quote from the most senior work study I interviewed. He is also the President of the veteran organization. He is explaining the way the organization has helped him in his college experience. By allowing him access to the backstage of administration he was able to find alternative ways to accomplish his school goals. He refers to these ways as the "back door". The backdoors are guarded by gate keepers much like my interviewee. In order to gain the trust of the group, I had to first be given access to their back door or back stage by the president, the gate keeper.

ROLES

The roles that an individual, holds comes with a distinct set of boundaries and responsibilities. While interviewing my research group, there were several references made to the different roles in the organization and their intended and latent effects.

"Um, and I'm willing to give an open ear and a helping hand to everybody. And when I tried to lead I tell people, give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. So, I think that's the strongest benefit"

This quote was given by the president of the organization. The president is explaining how he handles his role as a leader.  He feels that his strongest attribute is his ability to be an open ear to his constituents.  He believes that great leaders trust their members and place hope in them. As president he takes the initiative to prepare his successor by teaching them great leadership skills for the role of president.

"What made me want to come here is the former coordinator that was here was Mary. She was just a warm, genuine person and just watching her take care of everybody. That's what I mean. Everybody. I'm talking about veterans as a whole. She seemed like someone that would be awesome to work for"

When I asked the member, what influences their decision to join the organization, they gave the response above. They accredited their decision to the leadership that was in place. Mary was the coordinator of the program and she recently passed away. Apart of her everlasting legacy is the effect she left on the veteran students. In her role as coordinator she took her responsibilities serious and welcomed all veterans. Her warm reception is remembered by all of the students. This quote shows the importance of roles and the way that others are affected by the way we perform our roles.

"But the one thing that I was impressed about is the fact that when Dr. Goldsberry got here, she contracted all Fresno PD. So now its spreading. The PD has a presence here a lot because they're here from eight to eight, they're required to be here."

In this quote a member is praising someone in a leadership position. They told me that they were nervous when they first stepped on their campus. Dr. Goldsberry made sure to fulfill her responsibilities in her role on campus. By contracting Fresno PD, she was able to communicate to the student body, that their safety is paramount.  Leaders should always strive to make their members feel safe and secure.

Meaningful Action

Meaningful action is a complex, yet simple concept. It asserts that as we communicate the receiving party translates our cues and verbal statements and in turn they give a reaction.  The quotes below showcase the various ways in which meaning affects one's actions.

"We can all pick each other up. Whereas in class other students you can't interact with."

 

The veteran here is explaining the way that each veteran uplifts each other.  The meaningful action of being a veteran is enough to stimulate a response of empathy from other veteran students. Their response comes from their interpretation of each other. As the veterans become close they begin to understand each other's social cues.  As a result of their bond they can quickly attach meaning to the behaviors exhibited by each other. In this case they read the cues of each other in despair and react by uplifting each other.

"They might not have done it, but they know what you're talking about and so you can feel free to express your values here without any kind of criticism or prejudgment about you or whatever."

 

The president was sure to place emphasis on their open-door policy.  Though the veteran group is opened exclusively to college students, they embrace all veterans. As homeless veterans enter the campus they are well received by the veteran's organization. The homeless veterans are conditioned for people to shun them. As they are approached by the veteran group they are prepared for mistreatment, but instead they are embraced. As a result of the kind treatment they receive, they feel comfortable enough to sit and talk to the students. 

         Stigmas

Stigmas are ideals that people hold about certain groups of people or individuals sometimes based on their mental, emotional or physical health. Stigma is breaded by misunderstanding and fed by fear. The quotes below touch on the various stigmas that veterans' students and traditional college students have about each other.

"Coming from the military to this world is difficult. The students are not your age. It was hard to talk to them, them and just kind of relate to them or one or approach them because they were like 17, you know?"

 

This veteran was an older male in his 40's. He had a predetermined idea of what college students would be like? He expected them to be immature because they are only 17. This is a form of stigma because it has greatly affected the way he responded to others. The stigma of being the oldest person in class filled with incompetent teenagers is a debilitating stigma. Because of this stigma of this younger group of students this veteran student would only interact with other older students.  It became apparent that this is a wide spread stigma because the interviewee felt that I would be in agreeance with them.

  "We haven't had anyone, you know, horrible, but there are, is a story where sometimes people with PTSD, can get a little grabby I here. So, we're always looking out for that and different emotional issues between our two student populations."

 

Veterans are stigmatized for any potential mental disorders that may be plaguing them as a result of this service in the military.  The tutor though, in a controlled environment is still uncomfortable with veteran students. She has heard of them having PTSD and being violent.  The stigma around mental health issues is not tethered only to the veteran community, it is everywhere. Veterans just have a heightened chance of being stigmatized because of their status. Veteran and PTSD have become sister terms, always appearing together in context.

 

"And um, and I kind of sounds like almost like a, um, like a, an oxymoron because I just told you the campuses veteran supportive, but people still kind of shy away from veterans because they don't know how veterans going to take to them."

 

This quote comes from a veteran. This quote can serve a s response to the tutor's previous quote. The veterans are aware of the stigma that people have towards them. It is a most morbid situation. Decorated heroes must return to an unappreciative and judgmental society.  The effects of the stigma of mental health issues in veterans contributes to the lack of them seeking help. Which in turn may have a direct effect on the current statistic of 22 veterans committing suicide in America daily.

ANALYSIS (Content Analysis)

 Claims

            Claims are the bases on which a group pivots their argument for change. The claim is the basic building block in effective change. As people demand attention to their issues they make claims with persuasive language. They attempt to convince others that their claims are founded in truth. Claims are determined by personal experience of the individual or group making the assertion.

Source11: "A lot of veterans find it hard to stay motivated [once they begin school] and they just miss the brotherhood"

 

This claim states that veterans find it hard to remain motivated. Though this statement is not fact based on statistical data presented, it is true to the individual. This individual speaks for the group. This claim is personal for the veterans. They feel that they lose motivation when they enter the college setting. This is a major issue and opens the door for potential solutions to evolve. The group will have to find ways to keep the veteran students engaged in the school process.

 

Source 8: One thing that can become difficult for veterans is hearing the questions that people ask them about their experience. People are sometimes quick to assume that they have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Veteran group members make the claim that the transition into the college setting is made more difficult by the questions people ask them. The questions people ask them are based on their assumptions of military veterans. This is an issue for many veterans because they may suffer from PTSD but they require a great level of sensitivity to their condition. Which the average person is not equipped with the skills to address these issues. The veteran group must find a way to eradicate the stigma of military veterans and mental health issues on the college campus.

Source 8: The fraternity was disbanded in 2004 because of the members service obligations, graduations, and career opportunities.

 

The group encountered a major hurdle in 2004. Due to conflicting schedules and many members graduating the group was not able to sustain itself. Therefore, it was disbanded. This issue had to be addressed by new members that came in and revamped the program so that it would always have membership from all graduating classes and years.

 

Warrants

            Once a claim has been established, there must be some actions taken. Warrants are all of the reasons used to justify the groups actions used to address their claim.

Source 9: She also worked with our treasurer, Adam Kendrick, in developing a sustainable budget that allows us to not only pay the required monies to Nationals, but also have excess cash flow to engage in other activities on campus."

 

The justification for developing a new budget is clear in this warrant quote. They group want sto be able to have adequate funding to attend national conventions and have surplus funding available for on campus activities. The new budget is being established to address the issue of money shortages in the current budget.

 

Source 5: No person who is found to have committed an action of this type will be permitted to affiliate with this organization and this organization will not affiliate with them.

 

The group had to suspend one of their members for inappropriate conduct. The warrant for their action to suspend him is based on the justification that this type of conduct is not allowed. Therefore, they will have no dealing with this group member. There actions are justified by their words.

Source 11: We hope to keep veterans in school and make sure they see it through to graduation. We want to reduce the risk of veteran suicide. We also want to do good things for the school and community,"

 

The veterans that felt out of place on campus decided to start the veteran's group. They felt that veterans needed a group of their own. This claim led them to develop their own group. Veteran suicide has reached the statistics of 22 veterans a day. This is grounds for a warrant as well. The group wants to give back to their community. Many veterans are homeless and living in impoverished situations. Therefore, there needed to be a group established that would address these types of issues in the community.

 

Conclusions

The conclusion is the chosen solution. Once the claim has been established and the warrants for action are in place, the conclusion is the manifestation of them both. The conclusion is the explicit statements of what should be done to address the various issues.

 

Source10: "Anonymous" president to help revamp their social media; and for taking a standard operating procedure she wrote during his time as a public affairs liaison and making that procedure work for other collegiate organizations as well.

 

In this quote we see that the group has devised a plan to expand their group. They will use the new and improved social media platform. They will also utilize a program designed by their public affairs officer prior to her becoming a member of the group. The PA officer comes to the group with a ready-made plan of action to catapult the group into a new era.

Source16: We promise to provide a vital and efficient system of services to veterans, their dependents and their survivors. We provide precise guidance from beginning to end of each and every benefit we pursue on behalf of our clients.

 

The veteran students that join this group are not informed of all of their rights and privileges on the campus setting. This quote highlights the ways in which the veteran group helps their new members. The group is sure to educate their veterans on the whole process of college acceptance to college graduation.

Source 11: "Anonymous" will be participating in Bring it Back to Normal on April 18 and they also plan to give away ribbons to raise awareness for Sexual Assault Prevention Month.

 

An issue sweeping across American colleges is sexual assault. Military veterans are aware of the dangers of sexual assault. The military has a major problem with female military personnel being assaults. The veteran group here's on campus has decided to participate in an on-campus rally to bring attention to sexual assault.  They will also give away ribbons so that everyone may keep a memento of the event and remember to be vigilant and report assault immediately. The veteran group wanted to establish a circle of trust amongst the college students.

 

Ideologies

Ideologies give birth to claims. It is our own beliefs that shape the way we view an issue and if we consider it to be a problem. Therefore, we make claims based on our own personal beliefs and values. Groups are similar in this way. Groups think establishes the ideologies that the group members must uphold.

Source 5: As stated in our organization's preamble and as military veterans ourselves, honor, integrity, and respect are words that not only reside in our hearts, but were and still are a way of life for us. Let it be known in no uncertain terms that "Anonymous", National Veterans Fraternity, Inc. condemns all acts of sexual assault and sexual harassment in all its forms."

 

This quote blatantly states some ideologies from the group's preamble. This group values honor, integrity and respect. It is because of these ideologies that the group does not accept any form of sexual misconduct on the part of their members.

 

Source 1: Professional Respect. Leadership. Integrity. We exemplify these values to show others what being a veteran means and to provide an example for others to follow.

 

Veterans not only strive to be exemplary examples for each other, they want to inspire others to follow their ideologies as well. This quote shows the way that the veteran group views their importance on campus. They believe that they are responsible for representing all veterans in a positive manner. The most important thing for these veterans is to show everyone that they are professional, respectful, leaders with integrity.

 

Source18: The Veterans Services Office is proud to help veterans and their families succeed at Fresno State!  We recognize and honor their sacrifices and value our veterans' life experiences as they broaden the diversity of our university.

 

Pride is a common value amongst the military community and those whom serve this community. The idea of sacrifice is fluid amongst this veteran group. Many of them have made personal sacrifices themselves for this country. The groups goal is to assist these veterans in their transition into college life. To best serve them they must understand what it is that veterans hold close to them. Veterans retain their military ideologies in the civilian sector as well.

Framing

Framing is a more complex concept to understand. Framing, though very similar to claims, grounds and warrants, it is still distinct. Framing has 3 components; Diagnostic, Motivational and Prognostic.  Diagnostic framing addresses the nature of the problem followed by the motivational frame that establishes what action should be taken, the prognostic frame is what exactly should be done and how, it is very specific.

Source 5: (Prognostic) "It was brought to our attention that alumnus [insert] is currently under investigation for an alleged sexual assault."

 

The prognostic framing is the nature of the problem. The problem here is that one of the group members (alumni) has been accused of sexual assault. An investigation into the claim has begun.

Source5: (Diagnostic)As veterans of the United States military, each of our members took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. This includes the right to due process. We will await the results of the legal investigation and will pursue additional action only if necessary.

 

The veteran's group does not allow any member to be active or an active alumnus while under investigation for a sexual assault case.  They have to address the issue. The diagnostic frame of this quote shows us that action should be taken because of the ideology of the group. However, the way that they will address the issue is the prognostic frame.

Source 5: (Prognostic) In response, the "Anonymous" Board of Trustees and National Officers Board have unanimously elected to suspend Mr. Mathis' affiliation with the organization on a temporary basis.

 

The prognostic framing of this issue specifies that the member will be suspended on a temporary basis contingent upon the verdict of the sexual assault trial.

 

 

Conclusion

 This ethnographic research was an enjoyable experience. I was able to identify sociological theories in real life settings. The practical application of these theories gave me tremendous data on my organization. Based on my research, I can conclude that this organization is dedicated to their mission to help their veteran students. Everyone has a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. They all strive to maintain their role and perform their duties faithfully. They have established binding connections amongst the group. They share the interpretations of their meaningful actions. They promote the use of their symbols and colors by their members. They work diligently to encourage each other and advance their program.

In conclusion, I can state that the veteran's organization is successful in their mission of helping veteran students. The veteran's organization strives to assist students with their transition into the civilian school setting. This group is a vital part of the transitioning process. The veteran's group is working towards breaking down the barriers that have been placed between them and other students. 

In conducting this research, I learned many valuable aspects of my group. The way in which they choose to present themselves to the public is heavily based on their military service and ideologies. This veteran group has an expansive presence on social media platforms. This allows them to educate and motivate other veterans that are preparing to transition into the college setting. This veterans' group is willing to take an outsider view f themselves to discover any possible problems they are having. They evaluate themselves honestly and strive to fix the problems. This group genuinely cares about its members and its image to the public.