Introduction
This research covers several different aspects related to sociological theory. My research focuses specifically on symbolic interaction, however there are spate theories included as well. I observed group members over the course of a day from the morning into the afternoon. In addition to my regular observations, I also conducted an instance of shadowing. I made sure to observe adults over the age of eighteen in public locations. Similarly, for my interviews I made sure to conduct them all in public, but quiet areas. In those interviews I talked to three people for over fifteen minutes. In one of those interviews though, I had to break it into two sections as something came up that my interviewee had to see to. In my content analysis section, I researched several different documents that the group and news organizations had online. I also had the ability to look through several different documents they had on hand at their event sites. The documents in hand and online, combined with social media posts with pictures allowed for an in depth sociological analysis. In each of these sections I go through different sociological theories and show how they show themselves in every day interaction. I also had the added benefit of using NVivo, allowing me to organize all my data with easy to use nodes and word frequencies.
Literature Review
European Influences – Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Simmel
Karl Marx believed that society is built around the economy through consumption and false consciousness; these ruling ideas are promoted by the ruling class. The working class have limited agency must sell their labor as a product and in turn alienate themselves from class consciousness. Their individuality comes from consuming products, which separates them from others within their class. This can be seen today where people consume products that show off class and status.
Emile Durkheim's beliefs were that society is greater than the sum of its parts, it is instead the relationships between people that form society. (Dillon 81) Social rules are generated through everyday customs. Without social rules or situations where they're unclear it creates anomie, people kill themselves due to stress. He also talks about how we separate things into the mundane and sacred. That certain objects have more meaning than they should. In America, the US flag has more meaning than any other. Durkheim pushed the concept in Sociology that we only study things we can measure.
Max Weber main concept was that people have meaningful action; that behind every action there is a motive. In turn, we act depending on how we think others will react in accordance. He also believed in verstehen, that sociologists need to empathize and sympathize with those they study. Weber had the idea that capitalism spread faster in Protestant society because of mental states, which shaped society. (Dillon 122) His concept of the Iron Cage where people want more for less, generating unhappiness. We see this occurring today where people want the cheapest thing for the highest quality, at the expense of others. He believed that we should study only individuals, even within large groups.
Georg Simmel believes that there is a conflict between culture and our identity. In this conflict people are always trying to preserve themselves and that the best way to study people is to observe their everyday lives. He like Weber also felt that we need to focus on individuals over groups.
Early Refinements – Cooley, Thomas, Mead, Schutz, Manheim
Charles Horton Cooley created a concept called the looking-glass self, its fundamental idea being that people act in accordance to how others will react to us. It places a significant importance on the opinions of others that determine who you are; simultaneously your view on how other people see you is equally important. This concept also explains how society's values and customs are transferred on to the next generation creating a social identity. (Dunn 543) This type of behavior can be seen when a child is told they're smart. They internalize that behavior and try to fulfil the role of being a smart child. The images we believe that people have of us is how we produce our own identity. (Dunn 543)
George Herbert Mead came up with the concepts of gestures and significant symbols. His concept of gestures is the idea that people interact through physical acts like posture or speech. The vocalization of a gesture is important to mead though, because it allows one to see how their own gestures are being perceived, whereas posture and gaze can have several meanings. His idea of significant symbols comes from how we think others would react to us. We have an "I" that seeks to fulfill our wants and needs, however the "Me" limits our behavior in accordance to society. The interaction between the two is facilitated by the "Self;" operating in a form of internal impulses and mental breaks. A fully developed thinker takes the role of society to stop themselves from acting out of deviance; the process of learning our role in society is ultimately learned through playing games and observing interaction between people. Similar to society, in sports we observe how people are supposed to behave in certain roles. His concepts explain how society is learned and simultaneously changed by people. (Bredo 876)
Mid Century Refinements – Goffman, Blumer, Berger and Luckman, Garfinkel
Symbolic Interaction Theory is the idea created by Blumer that society is created through the interaction of people. It builds on several other concepts in an attempt to describe society. It describes how our individuality is created through the interaction between others and that we have agency. The institutions of society is based on an arrangement of interactions that we can stop any time we want. Using the same terms Mead used, two people interact performing gestures and recognizing significant symbols within them. We create images of ourselves through interactions and act according to the perceived response others would have of us. It's through this we learn our "Roles" in society, the expectations society has of us. We then create our "Self" or identity through these roles. We simultaneously create roles and take on new roles in this process by observation. We see this when someone comes in for their first day on the job, unsure of the role they learn through interacting with other employees. They take on those roles and then replicate them to others.
Symbolic Interactionism was shaped by Goffman through his concept of dramaturgy. He believed that the world is a stage in which everyone is an actor. The concept revolving around the definition of the situation; that we perform in a front and back stage. The front stage is where we're constrained and shape our behavior around how others perceive us. The back stage being a place where we're more relaxed and less likely to perform. In both cases, we are always managing our impression to make people perceive us in a positive way. There are interaction rituals which are common ways people act, like saying hello and goodbye; there are also non-verbal rituals like waving hello and goodbye. In society though, there are institutions that work to destroy our identities; places like the army. The idea of dramaturgy can be seen when a teacher presents themselves to their students where they seem knowledgeable and organized, when in reality might just barely have made it on time or had just learned what they were teaching.
Mid Century Refinements – Goffman, Blumer, Berger and Luckman, Garfinkel
Peter Berger and Thomas Luck-mann sought to understand people through their beliefs and views. They called it the social world, where society is constructed through socialization and how they define the situation. (Borgatta 3095) Much like symbolic interaction, they believe interacting with others is how behaviors and identities are formed, however they believe that it changes according to the situation. Similar to the looking-glass self the factors like location, age, values, and goals are all shaped through how we see ourselves through others. The social process of having an inner conversation between your desires and the judgements from others; we create multiple selves based on the social situations that control who we are. This type of behavior can be seen when observing a person throughout their life. Their aspirations change as they grow older and is effected by those they are with.
In symbolic interaction there is also the idea of looking beyond the looking-glass self. How identity is created by how one interprets one's self; usually when doing so, we have a positive view of ourselves. If we were to compare ourselves to others, usually it's to others who have performed poorly. This is observed when a burglar rationalizes that they may be a criminal, however they aren't a murderer. This idea emphasizes power in the individual and that we're in control of who we are. The idea of Self Efficacy, that when we're faced with difficulty do we overcome the situation. In such cases, in face of success our efficacy becomes stronger. This kind of behavior is seen when you complete homework right before its due and you feel like you can procrastinate as much as you want without consequence.
Intro to Advanced Symbolic Interaction Theory
Looking deeper into Goffman's concepts of dramaturgy, we find that during these performances we're seeking positive validation. It's found that while interacting, we perform in the concept of culture-taking where we determine which parts of culture we are going to use during the interaction; at the same time we perform culture-making, where we choose which symbols we're going to use. (Turner 331) This is similar to status-taking and status-making, where we take on roles we observe and simultaneously reflect the status to others. This behavior can be observed when someone becomes a parent. Most people change their behavior to fit that of a caring parent and in turn exude their role to others. There is also the idea of the Hierarchy of Transactional Needs, the idea that people have psychological needs that have to be met. At the core people need to be verified as an individual. The hierarchy describes how we need a group to include us, sincere trust between others, and that the world isn't always changing.
Cindy Cain presents a new concept to Goffman's idea of dramaturgy, stating that people are always performing in the front and back stage. The idea that hospice workers when with clients they project expertise and absolute professionalism. (Cain 678) When they're away from clients and families, they joked about death and had morbid conversations. Cain talks about how these conversations and jokes aren't meant to ridicule, they help hospice workers maintain their performances in the front stage. (Cain 688) This concept also applies in places like war or hospitals where reality can be overwhelming.
Ethnography Methods
During my observations I had a hard time connecting theories to what I was actually observing; the only ones that seemed apparent to me were the different status and roles people took. On the other hand, the thick description was easily obtained and I had a large amount of my recordings describing new things. When the even had concluded, I was able to go home and go through my recordings and type my field notes. It was while I was typing and listening to my recordings that I was able to see more theory revolving around front and back stage, meaningful actions, and how people defined the situations. I was able to analyze my data through the use of Nvivo and create nodes and sub-nodes to organize my work. I was also able to create word queries and text queries to better organize my data to gather data according to sociological theory. Through the use of Nvivo, I managed to create several nodes: Thick Description, Front Stage, Back Stage, Status, Roles, and Meaningful Action. I was also able to use several different text queries that allowed met to find quotes I could use for my analysis.
The data I collected was an enormous help in understanding the different ways people can interact and how it relates to sociological theory. It also helped that by being a martian I could observe and questions actions that they might already know. Then my participant observation allowed me to see the different ways in which the group members interacted in front of the public and with others in the group activity. It was a little difficult at first as I was new to the situation and had to introduce a new situation to those I was observing. However, after a while I assume people become accustomed to me and behaved normally. I was able to organize my field notes easily thanks to Nvivo and analyze them several ways.
Interview Methods
In my interviews I set up a scheduled time and was lucky enough to never have to reschedule or move things around. It took over the course of two weeks and I recorded each interview using my phone. However, I changed my recording application after discovering the low quality of my first interview. Each of the members that I had interviewed had different positons so it allowed me to grasp a better understanding of the structure inside of the group and learn about how they viewed different groups through their views.
Before showing up to the interview, I prepared by creating an interview guide that had several different topics that related to sociological theory and questions that might offer me insight into their group. The interview guide was useful for some interviews and allowed me to keep on track, however I only needed it for one interview that I felt was structured in a "ask a question then answer it format." The other two interviews felt more like a conversation that allowed for a better interview.
The amount of data I collected was a success as I was able to review the interviews in NVivo. Through the use of NVivo I was able to organize all of my interview transcripts and code each of them into a node. To aid the better organization of data, I was also able to use word frequency queries to learn which words were most prevalent throughout all my interviews. I was even able to create a word cloud that demonstrated graphically the frequency of words and was able to remove and edit any words I felt didn't pertain to the research. Though all of these techniques, I was able easily understand and organize all of my data.
Content Analysis Methods
In order to better first understand and organize my materials I created nodes on sociological theory in NVivo. Having them constantly on hand while I read through each article helped significantly as I was able to remind myself for what I was looking for. When I had finished coding and analyzing all of my documents, I used word frequencies and queries to help identify what key words were used. NVivo also allowed me to have a convenient location where all my documents were gathered, as opposed to scattered through a file.
I felt the amount of data I received was significant, however I felt that it was difficult to find sociological theory throughout the writing as most of my documents talked about animals, wildlife, and the need for donations or volunteers; this could be an issue I have created, considering I'm not experienced with content analysis. I had to read about several different kinds of species throughout the documents and try to find where there might be sociological theory behind them. Ultimately, I was able to find several different instances of sociological theory through analyzing several articles published by news sources as well as my organization. Final Exam Paper
Ethnography
Ethnographic research is one of three different types of research concerning Sociology. This type of field research is normally conducted by interacting in a setting with different people pertaining to your group. It might sound easy, however ethnographic research has a multitude if factors that plague a research. It ranges from how much access you already have with the group already, then there are other factors pertaining to the researcher and their methods. A vital step in ethnographic researcher is determining where the research should be conducted (Warren and Karner p.57). A research first needs to acknowledge whether this is within a private or public place and must check with the International Review Board. The other issues regarding location also include transportation costs to get to that location, level of significance or interest, and the cost. The cost varies and isn't tied to monetary value; it can include the time one must put in for the research, how it might affect social relationships, and even emotional discomfort depending on the subject of interest (Warren and Karner p.57). The writers suggests different methods one can implement to reduce the impacts these effects may have on a researcher, for example they suggest choosing a group you are already involved in and having it be close to you (Warren and Karner p.61). In ethnographic research there are often people who help facilitate your research; these people are often referred to as "Key Informants" and "Gatekeepers" (Warren and Karner p.71-72). When a researcher has been granted access to the group, it's vital to note the developments of roles and statuses. It's also important to remember that researchers run different risks: they can be regarded as spies, become an apprentice, or even fully integrate with the group (going native). All these risks are important to keep in mind as a researcher engages in ethnographic research.
Interview
Interviews are another way researchers can gather information to help conduct research. There are different types of interviews that can help researchers gather information, however the one we focus on is qualitative interviews. This method helps gather information behind a person's accounts and reasoning, something difficult when using surveys or questionnaires (Warren and Karner p.122). An important step to conducting interviews is finding a good interviewing location; it should be convenient to your respondent, however it should also be safe and free from distractions as well (Warren and Karner p.138). When conducting an interview, there are different ways to help smooth the process and gather as much research as possible: "Face Sheets" that help identify basic facts such as gender or age before the interview, "Interview Checklist" containing questions and topics you're interested in, and waiting to ask disturbing questions at the end of the interview helps build a rapport for more truthful or revealing answers (Warren and Karner p.125). It's also important to keep in mind the different types of interview formats that are conducted; whether the interview is one on one, in a focus group, or over the internet. Each interview has nuances that can help improve research, for example an interview with a couple might offer different versions or perceptions of the same story (Warren and Karner p.130); similarly in a focus group you can receive different accounts comparing ideas and views. When you are conducting interviews it's important to validate, empathize, and probe. By using those three techniques, you help build trust and keep them comfortable with the interview; it can also allow for more information to be gathered (Warren and Karner p.151). When an interview is complete the respondent might also talk about things they weren't willing to say with the recorder on. It's vital though to remember that you must ask their permission to turn the recorder back on. When transcribing your notes, you should transcribe them verbatim or as accurately as possible.
Content Analysis
An important form of research manifests itself through textual or visual data, in these cases Sociologists conduct a content analysis. Unlike the other forms of research, the data sources are gathered through different facets: magazines, news articles, social media, and historical documents. It's important to ask different questions depending on what type of data you're looking at. Warren and Karner mention asking what the image is of, who took it, the purpose of the image, and how do people read or interpret it. There are also patient participant images to consider; they allow participants to photograph important things to them and their culture which help researchers to better construct their own narratives (Warren and Karner p.192). If we were looking at articles or historical documents we would want to identify how the documents might frame the issue. The different types of claims that a document might make and the ways the data draws in conclusions based on the information they present through grounds and warrants. A different way to use visual data is through photo-elicitation; a method that involves showing a photograph to understand a respondent's personal opinion or potential significance (Warren and Karner p.194). In the modern world we live in, the internet is a vital tool for researchers. It can help gather information easily and people are able to conduct interviews online, however there's the risk of not being able to confirm identities. These hazards also encompass emails or photographs as they can be doctored or faked as well. In total, one of the most important abilities concerning content analysis is to make connections between the documents and sociological theory. A content analysis is different from other forms of research because the sociological theory is different from ethnographies and interviews. The researcher should be looking for theory through the images and writing as opposed to person to person.
Ethnography Section Finding and Results
Thick Description
In my observation the first thing I analyze was how rugged the terrain was here. As I drove in and parked my car, the floor was either dirt or rocks of various sizes. In the start of my field notes I immediately begin taking thick description on the area and the different stations.
"Pulling onto the dirt road I notice how the area is arid and the road has scattered rocks about. I drive for a bit and pull into what seems to be the area they're organizing parked cars; the parking area matches the area as it's purely dirt and rocks."
The weather itself was sunny with a light breeze that made the heat a little bearable. When I had arrived at the sign in station, I discovered there were several other stations set up in different ways. It seemed there was about ten people here setting up and greeting hikers who came by this early in the morning.
"Looking around, the majority of the stations seemed to be set up for children. One of them had small blocks to play with and some table top games, another station had a cornhole area. A station right in front of the sign in booth has sunglasses and trail mix…"
The stations seem to be set up mostly for children as the majority have small games for them to play. It seems like a place where children can play for a bit while the parents could rest their feet after the hike. It could also be something for both parents and children to play as well. As I signed into the station I introduce myself and begin talking to the group members there. It was there I noticed that there was uniform for the group.
"As I continue going up the trail, I finally reach the sign in area after about fifteen minutes and meet several group members. They're all wearing a long or short sleeve green shirt with cargo pants or khakis, it seems that this is the groups uniform."
I also noticed that seemed that they have a system going on where people took on different roles.
Roles
The different roles depended on where people were in the station and even have a little bit to do with status. The people at the front seem ready to talk to others, while members in the back are simply helping set things up; I talk about an interaction in my field notes.
"It's interesting to note that she was the only one who seemed willing to talk to me about the group; the other members seemed to shy away or leave the area completely."
In this system people have taken on certain statuses and roles. It seems most of the people at the sign in station have taken on the status as greeters. They even have a bit of a higher status it seems as they have been a part of the group for a while, they are also able to tell any member of the public the history of their group. I mention it in my notes,
"It seems this woman was taking on the role of the informer and greeter for the public. The others seemed to be there to help set up or retrieve things they may have needed."
They are also there to try and get people to sign up for their membership which allows people to private guides and events. They play out these roles by smiling often and being ready to answer any question the public might have. On the trail I ran into a two individuals that were grouped together, but wearing very different clothing. One is dressed in basketball shorts and a regular t-shirt, while the other is dressed in light long clothing.
"His friend tells me that he goes hiking a few times a year and knows what he needs to wear, his friend however never goes hiking."
It seems his friend has taken on the role of a hiker, whereas his friend has taken on the role of a supportive friend.
Status
They play out different roles through the clothing they wore, through it they also have different meanings to why they're here; his friend tells me that he isn't here to hike. This could also be a collective ideology for people who hike often.
"He quickly greets me as he walks past at a faster pace; he's wearing different things compared to everyone else. He has on a long sleeve with long cargo pants, however he has on a backpack with two containers with water and is using a walking stick as well."
This would be an example of a man who seemed to be a frequent hiker and was ready to stay here for most of the day, as opposed to basketball shorts. It seems the adequately dressed man is a hiker and prepared to spend most of the day here. Soon another man was wearing something similar to the group members, but set himself apart.
"He seems similarly dressed to most people here, however he's wearing cargo shorts, a cap, sunglasses, and has a dark blue shirt with a name tag. He quickly introduces himself and tells us that he's on the board for this group and helps makes several decisions."
It shows that although he is ready to go hiking like other members of the group, but focused on staying cool with his shorts; it could also be a fashion choice as well. It might also be a bit of a change in status; that although he is a part of the group he is different in the roles he performs. One other group showed this perfectly,
"They have on hiking boots and long sleeves, cargo pants, and several bottles of water; it seems that these people are experienced hikers…. They tell me that they almost never hike and brought all these supplies and clothing to prepare for anything that might happen out here"
These people have an expectation of hikers and have decided to buy things that they expected hikers to have. They ended matching most of the hikers on the trail as they have this common sense dress code, seemingly understanding the common sense that hikers have.
In my field notes I also talk about how people can have different meanings behind their actions.
Definition of the Situation
One that stood out in my mind was the two friends I met wearing different clothing; one dressed for hiking and the other looking like he was about to play some basketball.
"He seems to define the situation as a simple visit where their hike lasts half an hour at most, the reasoning behind his clothing seems to be revolving around comfort as opposed to protection from nature."
One other case where I found people reacted in reaction to others was when non-group members came by the stations. That their behaviors changes as soon as they saw others and that it was in stark contrast to when no one is there.
"I notice that when there are people walking by, the group members are friendly and ready to talk and help people. They put on smiles and are talkative with anyone who comes to their station."
These greeters are acting in accordance to others and being friendly to both be nice and I believe to help get people to become members to help support the group. The membership offered several things, however they didn't put too much emphasis on joining when I talked to them.
"It seems this woman was taking on the role of the informer and greeter for the public. She also talked about how they were always looking for people to join their membership which would allow people to get access to private events and guided tours."
Not to say they the greeters are there trying to get people to sign up for membership, but I believe that is a part of their goal for being there. I eventually come back from the trail and begin to observe group members interacting with the public. It was here that I noticed an instance of front and back stage.
Front Stage and Back Stage
"I notice that when there are people walking by, the group members are friendly and ready to talk and help people. They put on smiles and are talkative with anyone who comes to their station."
They are acting in very different ways depending on who they're with. When the public is here they are constantly smiling and happy to answer or help anyone. The back stage is understandably different, I talk about it in my field notes as follows.
"As there comes a break and people aren't yet arriving, I notice that they interact and act differently. There isn't as many smiles and they seem to be relaxed, sitting down, and talking about something; in fact they even seem to be joking about a few things and laughing."
The group members seemingly more relaxed and having fun with their conversation. This was similar to another station off in the back of the area. There was a single woman setting up her station who seemed reserved and moving at her own pace. It seemed her station was different when compared to other stations.
"I notice that when she was a lone she was relaxed and taking her time, however when people show up she gets slightly more tense. However, that seems to have gone away now and is relaxed with anyone who comes to her station."
In this case, it was interesting to see that what I believe to be her front and back stage were only slightly different. In her back stage she was reserved and didn't speak much with friends, however with the public she only talked a bit more than usual.
Interview Section Finding and Results
Role and Status
In my interviews one of the most prevalent sociological theories was the roles and statuses that people had. There were titles that people had and would range over their specific job title and what kind of things were required to get that title. I learned that there were different types of docents (volunteers) within my group.
"Docents are educators who are volunteers and they've worked there for two years. Docents is another word we use for volunteers. They are docents because they've worked for over two years, well they've been around for more than two years. They are very knowledge of the preserve, they have a biology or geology background. They usually have a high degree, where when they come out they know what they're doing. "
Within that title there were subdivisions of member docents and educator docents, not being mutually exclusive. Member docents were subscribed to the group and had access to private hike trails, while educator docents had unique knowledge of the plants, land, or wildlife.
"Usually for regular volunteers to become a docent, it's pretty simple. You pretty much go and volunteer on education days that are offered our agency. We provide during the spring from February to May for eight weeks."
There were those who had volunteered their time during education days and were able to obtain the title of a docent. It required about eight days of training, however they were less respected than docents who volunteered far more time.
"Docents are very highly respected because they volunteering their time to come and serve the community. Whereas volunteers come and serve the community, but it's more of a learning experience. Not more of like their choice to come out and give time to engage with the youth. It's just getting to know more people."
Overall it seems that docents are valued members of the group, but there were varying levels of respect. Not to say that the members who hadn't volunteered as much time weren't respected, but that those who had volunteered more garnished more respect.
Meaningful Action
In my interviews I also found that people were participating in the group for different reasons. Some people felt that by participating in the group it would give back for the future.
"I think I'm really proud of the things that they tried to do and you know, basically again, you're trying to serve and do the right thing and I, I'm just, I want the kids and everybody that's coming up to be able to have this land and so they can go and see it and know what it, what it's for without it all being developed because that's."
This person's intention of participating in this group was to make sure there would be a part of nature left for the next generation. For another person I had interviewed, this group was a step towards their goal of a career and dream.
"When we went backpacking I met this pretty park ranger lady and I just thought it was pretty cool. I thought man, I want her job. To just hike and check on people, tell them the rules what they can do what they can't do. Tell them about the leave no trace policy and let them to enjoy their day. That's how I got into it, cause of that class. If I never done that class I would of never done that backpacking trip."
It was shown time and time again though that people were looking to help preserve nature and share it with others. I expected to find a few individuals who were participating for experience or as a means to survive, but it seems the people I interviewed felt differently and strongly otherwise.
"I want to become a member docent and help people and guide them to the right path and get them to their destination. To describe what's native to California so people don't have to go far to recreate. "
In each interview I found that the group was a vital part of their lives and something that transcended monetary gain and entertainment, it seemed like it gave meaning to the future.
Front Stage and Back Stage
The group I had decided to conduct my research on involved several different private and public events. The front and back stage theory was something that was easily witnessed in person and even talked about clearly in some of my interviews.
"Well, I think it's like any other time you have people to your house so to speak, as you know, we want to make sure that it's presented. Will that, is that. Yeah, there's a danger in on the trail. No down trees, overhanging branches that might come down on somebody. So just a lot of preparation for safety and then also preparation, just you have enough cash in garbage cans out there for people to put stuff and we'd have, you know, our parking ready to go."
This seemed to be an instance of making sure the front stage was presentable for the public. To be able to show and share the group with the public, but making sure we leave a favorable perception on the public; this was also reinforced in one of my other interviews.
"I would say yes a little bit, because with your peers you can be yourself a little more. If you have certain feelings you can let them know about what feel about something. When you're on the open preserve days you could protect yourself, but just know that they're participants and they don't want someone to just say something rude. You know, ruin their day. People are meant to come out and have fun, to not be discriminated or to not be stressed about what they do."
This interviewee showed that it's very much like creating a front stage and performing our best for the public, however behind the scenes they could be far more relaxed. That there wasn't as much pressure and you could behave normally.
"These lands and yeah, just so I guess, yeah, your demeanor changes a little bit between somebody you work with, like, like Steve or you or somebody like that, you know, because you're always out working out is when you're working around people you joke and do things like that, but when you're just meet the general public, you know, it's, it's a matter of being cordial and having the demeanor to show them that we really appreciate them."
One of my other interviewees agreed with them and talked about how there was a difference between acting with other group members as opposed to the public. That they have to act and perform when the public was there and that being cordial and showing appreciation for members is important.
Ideology
In my interviews I found that there were several instances where terminology, actions, and even behaviors were normal for a group. An instance of a common sense or ideology that was known throughout the group.
"Docents are educators who are volunteers and they've worked there for two years. Docents is another word we use for volunteers. They are docents because they've worked for over two years, well they've been around for more than two years. "
In this instance I was talking to this interviewee and they didn't describe what a docent was until after I had asked. In fact, we continued to talk and I learned that there was more terminology on docents that I didn't yet know.
"When our policy is that we always have another coworker with us. We always need a coworker or a docent that has been with the group for more than 2+ years. We give them the authority and trust where they can be the care taker and do their own hike classes as long as they notify the group."
There were different instances of what people were supposed to know. If you were a volunteer you could come and help at any time, but if you were a docent you were expected to know policies regarding the group. Then if you were an educator docent, usually you were expected to have better knowledge about the preserve.
"…you know, that's, that's explained to them, you know, when you're hiking on the trails at the cattle are the most important thing, not necessarily how quick you can get by them. And so, you know, the cattle have priority over you and you're going to have to stop and wait and let them do their things because that's what we're managing part."
It was also something known through the group that although the public and members were vital to the group, there were other important things as well. That the land, wildlife, and plants took priority over the people.
Role Transition
I found that there were several instances where people had to change their roles in the group. A few interviewees came from another job or started as a volunteer and found a place within the group under a new role.
"I'm not a member of the group (member referring to a subscription), I've never led a hike with them, but I do help them whenever they need a volunteer or any help. I want to become a member docent and help people and guide them to the right path and get them to their destination."
This was an instance of someone who had just taken on the role of a volunteer and was looking to do more for the group, however they needed time to become a docent. It seemed like a desirable transition, however that wasn't the same for everyone.
"Um, well my background is in horticulture, specializing in California native plants and also in agriculture, specializing in organic vegetables. So I've been doing that for about 15 years and when I decided to leave my farm I'm, a friend of mine kind of asked me, had told me, you know, hey, I'm retiring, why don't you take my job? And I wasn't real sure that I wanted to work for a nonprofit just, you know, with the family inside and she wasn't sure that it would be economical feet economically feasible."
In this case the person was taking on a new job with the group and was ambivalent about it. The role transition seemed to be arduous, however the person came to love their job. In one of my other interviews, it was very different and the role transition was very much welcomed.
"I was volunteering whereas the conservancy and helping to preserve manager take care of the property and do those kinds of things. And at that time it was only for employees. Oh Wow. So I went and had lunch with the executive director and the manager at the time and they offered me a job, so I kind of looked at questioning, questioning, you know, if that's really what they wanted to do because I said, so you want to pay me a little bit for what I'm doing for nothing? "
In this instance, the interviewee almost fell into the job and was able to get monetary gain for doing what they loved. The interviewee made it clear that the reason they took this job wasn't for the money and was just something they offered for him to as a bonus.
Content Analysis Section Finding and Results
Controlling Images
The organization that I researched has several outlets putting out images that helped to define what they were about. It helped those who saw them learn about the importance of wildlife, cattle, and preserving the land.
"December is mooving right along 🐮 Avoid a stampede at the mall and purchase a gift membership to Conservancy for every nature lover, hiker, birder and photographer on your list at…"
This post went to show several important things to the group. It shared that the membership was something sought after by those who love nature. It also goes to show that this group was willing to be humorous and this was far more relaxing than normal shopping.
This infographic is something used by my group to show what should was important to them, and how it should be important to others. They show that this grass fed beef is more valuable from regular store bought beef for several reasons.
"Wondering what to give family and loved ones this holiday season? Give the gift of membership! Recipients will receive a special new member welcome package as well as a note acknowledging your gift. What a meaningful way to increase your support of local land conservation!"
They post on several different social media outlets about how important it is to preserve the land; the best way to do so is to donate or become a member of this conservancy. These posts show that the conservancy is all about keeping the land healthy, as well as keeping people healthy and happy.
Ruling Texts
They also show on several different articles what they believe to be important rules and beliefs that the group has. They talk about how the conservancy is both a part of the community and place to give back.
"Conservancy is a land trust rooted in the local community. With your volunteer time and donations, we preserve special places for future generations.
Be a hero to your community and sign up today for our Superhero Highway Cleanup, happening Oct. 28th at the Preserve!"
These two excerpts are from different documents, but they show that they are meant to exist for the community and preserving the land. The posts show that the conservancy is an avenue to give back to the community through volunteer time or donations.
"It's #cowtuesday AND #givingtuesday This mama cow's face says it all. Help us preserve natural landscapes and cultural resources - donate today"
This post on social media along with the picture tells everyone what is important to the group and those who act in it. The importance being donating to maintain landscapes and cultural resources specifically, but just as important, the cattle. That their job is to preserve the land and to help local farmers produce grass fed cattle.
"Created in 2004, the … Conservancy … is a state agency whose mission is to improve the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the Nevada Region. The … has awarded over $50 million in grants for projects to protect and enhance the health of California's primary watersheds by improving forest health, remediating mercury contamination from abandoned mines, protecting critical natural resources and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Funding for these projects comes from Proposition 84 passed by voters in 2006."
In this document, they are very clear about what is the rule of thumb for their organization. That they are to promote the wellbeing of the land and do everything they can to help improve the health for everything within it.
Claims
In almost every article, brochure, or image there was a claim being made; ranging from thanking those who donated to showing how much the conservancy has helped make the land a better place.
"26,095 TOTAL ACRES PROTECTED FOREVER; Over $20 million IN SUPPORT AWARDED FOR OUR PRESERVES AND EASEMENTS' 1100 MEMBERS PRESERVING NATURAL AREAS; OVER 250 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED MORE THATN 3000 HOURS IN 2015"
In this specific issue of their newsletter, they show that they are truly helping the land become a better place. That the conservancy is working towards land that would be preserved for future generations through the help of donations and volunteers.
"Loyal members are the cornerstone of ability to do good work. Not only does a large membership provide financial stability, but it also gives the organization the necessary credibility for important decision makers such as local and state governments, granting agencies, other organizations in the land trust arena and with the community at large."
They claim that members are the reason that the preserve is able to work so well, that they are vital to the organization itself. They also reinforce the idea that by volunteering you are becoming someone who is better for the land.
"Connecting youth to their local habitat is an important step in developing future young stewards. … is fortunate to have a group of volunteers that is passionate about working with elementary aged children and providing them with an amazing outdoor experience. Each season education docents engage over 500 young students, introducing them to an exciting world of wonder. Though the program remains small, the efforts are extremely fruitful."
The conservancy claims that by volunteering, you are developing a future that cares for nature and in doing so you are becoming a more rounded individual.
Framing
In one of the documents describing the group, I found an excerpt describing what the land is for; the different ways the land can help serve wildlife, plants and us as well.
"Our protection of land…Protects wildlife & preserves native flora and historic rangelands, provides educational and recreational opportunities for the community, promotes scientific study of ecosystems, and Maintains open space and beautiful vistas."
This use of language frames the land as a vital part of life for everyone. That the land provides for animals and flora, as well as giving us vital information for the expansion of knowledge. In another document, it talks about how the group works with the land and has been doing it for twenty years and how it would do it forever.
"Celebrating 20 years 1996 to 2016. Saving Natural Lands, Now and Forever: Our story Thanks to your support…Conservancy continues to evolve and grow into a thriving nonprofit organization. Your contributions, collectively joined together, send a clear message throughout our region: we value natural areas."
This excerpt not only shows that this group aims to serve the land forever, however it frames the issue of conservancy as an issue for everyone. That it's because of "your support" that allows them to maintain the beautiful land. We can find similar language when they talk about landowners interested in helping conserve the land.
"…Conservancy accepts easements with the understanding that we must enforce its terms in perpetuity. Landowners grant conservation easements because they want to conserve their property from unwanted development while retaining ownership. Many of our partnering landowners and their families have lived on the land for generations. They understand how to work with the land and wish to conserve it."
They show that the preserve works with many landowners already and that if you care about the land you would join. It also says that they not only want to help conserve nature, but they would be rewarded with help while retaining ownership.
Typification
In the documents there were several instances where it showed that people were expected to know certain things, specifically the group members.
"Conservancy hikes are led by a very dedicated group of volunteers who are passionate about sharing the wonder of nature with visiting hikers. As they lead groups on the various properties, they share aspects of cultural history, habitat features, and facts associated with the specific property visited."
In this document they show that volunteers aren't just people who looking to help, but knowledgeable members of the land; people with expertise and information.
"Each of our dedicated hiking docents have varying backgrounds, lending expertise in a variety of areas. The common thread is their desire to connect people to the beauty of the land and the importance of conservation for future generations. Our docents are amazing ambassadors and we are grateful for their leadership!"
It's reinforced that these volunteers know the land and are ready to share the knowledge as well as connect with people. In the same document, they talk about how they have volunteers outside of just hiking and guides.
"The membership is an indispensable asset that includes many volunteers who give their time, energy, and expertise. Hikes, classes, field trips, and events are supported by dedicated members. Preserve crews and highway clean-up crews are also member driven. Members also offer their expertise in the office or with writing and editing documents, articles and other media put out by the organization. "
That a person's membership not only helps conserve the land, but it also helps train volunteers to be skilled in all parts of a non-profit. That people who want to become a member and a volunteer are expected to be a vital part of the organization.
Conclusion
In the end of my observation I felt like I had gathered an abundance of information. I was able to see a few different sociological theories in action and was able to recognize them far more when I was listening to them in my recording, while typing them up in word. The most prominent sociological theories I saw revolved around front and back stage. It was so easy to see I think, because there were bursts in activity where there wouldn't be anyone coming, then suddenly groups of people would come in. Overall, the observation worked to tie sociological theories to real world interactions and helped me to understand how these occurrences happen every day and can go unnoticed unless looking for it specifically. These sociological theories also show themselves in interviews, albeit with different theories.
In the interview process I was able to learn about how sociological theory is so easily observed and talked about without us knowing. The ideas of transitioning into roles and the different ways it can impact a person, be it a smooth or difficult transition. It was also important to note how everyone took on different roles and status, knowing what was expected of them. That everyone had some level of knowledge on the preservation and that there were subdivisions in the volunteering title and how each had a varying degree of respect. That stigma can even be created for achieving one of these titles without the same amount of effort and dedications that others had put in, yet still be of the same title. What was especially significant though, was learning that each of them had different meanings behind their actions. The people I had interviewed had different meanings as to why they participated or worked with this group, that in the end it was about interacting with people and preserving nature for others. I was able to see how these ideas resurface in the documents posted on line.
The analysis of several different documents showed how there were several different sociological theories. There were examples of typification on how group members were expected to know several different things if they were to lead hikes. One of the most prevalent things that I had found was the abundance of claims made about the group. There were several nodes I coded in NVivo showing how the group claimed to have made a difference for the land and how they preserved things for the future. It was also surprising to see how often framing came coupled with claims. It was often talked about how the land needed to be conserved for the future and that the best way to do it was to either donate money or time to the group. The ruling text was also something that came out in several different articles written about my group, showing what their values were and how they wanted to progress forward. These sociological theories were all embedded into these documents as long as you looked for them.
Bibliography
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