Research Paper

Anonymous 

Introduction

I did my research on an educational center that promotes diversity on a local college campus. I performed three formal participant observations, conducted three interviews, and analyzed different content from the center's media. I gathered information on how the center operates to help and provide resources and services to students. I observed the way the student coordinators interacted with each other and how they interacted with students. I also collected data from students who worked in the center and was able to apply the data gathered to different sociological theories. I found that there are different statuses that people occupy in the center and different roles these statuses require individuals to play. I also found that the definition of the situation was different for everyone at the center and that the student coordinators frontstage and backstage life changed depending on the definition of the situation.

Literature Review

Symbolic interaction is a theoretical perspective that focuses on the self (Dillon, 2014). George Herbert Mead was an important philosopher, sociologist, and psychologist who argued that we are not born with an already-made self, but our self is made through social interaction (Dillon, 2014). He also argued that the self is active, and we are constantly in a conversation with ourselves, which in essence is what it means to have a self (Dillon, 2014). Mead refers to the "I" and the "Me", the "I" being what you believe about yourself, and the "Me" is what is expressed to you by others (Dillon, 2014). You know how to act in a given situation because of others' attitudes towards you and because of how they act in a similar situation, therefore you can only develop a self through social interaction (Dillon, 2014). Socialization is what teaches us how to interact with others and develop the self. William I. Thomas another important sociologist, discusses what we may call the definition of the situation. We never truly know what's going on in any situation and we are always trying to control it. Our definition of the situation could be completely different from someone else's and we always want people to believe our definition. Mead also writes about behaviorism. He argued that humans can be conditioned to respond in a predictable manner to external stimuli, just like dogs in Pavlov's famous experiment (Dillon, 2014). However, Mead argued that human interaction is different than animal behavior because humans have the ability to give meaning (Dillon, 2014). Clearly, animals don't talk so they can't communicate the way humans can. Afterall, our words and gestures are a key way we communicate.

Erving Goffman also discusses symbolic interaction. One of his main ideas was that social life mirrors the theater (Sandstorm, Martin, & Fine, 2009). Goffman believes that we are actors on a stage, we each have a role and we play it depending on which stage we are on. According to Goffman we "perform" to communicate with people in a given situation (Sandstrom et al., 2009). He said there's a front stage and backstage to our lives. When we're on the front stage we perform how the audience wants us to perform and when we're in the backstage we contradict the front stage performance (Sandstrom et al., 2009). One example of this is a restaurant. The restaurant itself in the theater and the dining room is the front stage while the kitchen is the backstage. A waitress will act in a polite manner while taking one's order but could go back to the kitchen and complain about the "needy" people at her table. According to Goffman, we are actors on stage because we engage in impression management (Sandstrom et al., 2009). We do and say certain things because we want to leave a certain impression on people in a certain situation. For example, if you're interviewing for a job you want to leave a lasting impression. You'll probably bring out your best outfit and act nearly "perfect" so you could land the job.      Goffman argued that we not only embrace certain roles, but we also detach ourselves from them (Sandstrom et al., 2009). He describes this as role distance. We play a role, but in a insincere way. We feel the need to take on a role for others. Goffman also discusses that roles are always changing. We must adjust to new roles and new situations.

Methods

             Ethnography is one of the methods used in qualitative research. It is based on interacting and talking with people in a setting (Warren & Karner, 2014). First, of course, you have to find a setting and gain access to it. You must remember that unless the setting you chose is small and limited with time and space you will not be able to completely study the setting in one semester (Warren & Karner, 2014). If the setting is public, chances are access to the setting will be easy, if the setting is private access might be harder (Warren & Karner, 2014). So, it is very important to consider access, geographical issues, interest, and cost when choosing a setting. Everyday settings such as parks or bus stops where you think nothing interesting happens might be the most captivating (Warren & Karner, 2014). You not only have extremely easy access to these settings, but everyday life is filled with interaction, patterns, deviance, and social control that will benefit your research. (Warren & Karner, 2014). You can also study settings where you are already a member. You already have access to the setting and you're in a good position to understand patterns of interaction (Warren & Karner, 2014). For example, if you're a bartender studying a bar your ethnography will be different than a customer studying the same bar. Although studying something you are apart of raises difficult questions it also offers great data that people from outside the setting can't obtain (Warren & Karner, 2014). It is also important to note how you present yourself while doing field research. First impressions are everything, the way you dress, your demeanor and your accent affect not only your research but other aspects of your everyday life (Warren & Karner, 2014).  The way researchers present themselves may determine if their studies will proceed or be rejected (Warren & Karner, 2014). Finally, the way you approach your setting is vital. You can call, email, write a letter, or even personally visit the setting you are studying depending on how formal or informal it is (Warren & Karner, 2014). Once you gain access to your setting it's time to start your research.

Interviews are another major method used in qualitative research. In research interviewing, the interviewer questions the interviewee on a topic that the interviewer is interested in and that has some relevance to the respondent (Warren & Karner, 2014). Qualitative interviews, which are also known as in-depth or intensive interviews focus on the meaning of life experiences (Warren & Karner, 2014). Whether or not you should have interviews in your research depends on the kind of questions you want to be answered, if you are interested in biography and accounts then interviews should be used (Warren & Karner, 2014). These interviews are different from others due to its formal structuring. The formal structuring includes the development of specific questions, the selection of respondents, and the recording of the interview (Warren & Karner, 2014). The easiest questions should always be asked first during an interview because respondents might be more willing to answer more "disturbing" questions an hour or more into the interview (Warren & Karner, 2014). It is also important for the interviewer to always be prepared to clarify questions as well as to prompt for more details. In qualitative research, we use theoretic sampling which seeks in respondents the criteria that was in the research questions (Warren & Karner, 2014). You are able to choose who will be interviewed and how many people will be interviewed depending on the resources and the topic of the interviews (Warren & Karner, 2014). The best place to conduct interviews is a public space. It is important that you make the respondent feel comfortable and not rushed. You should always be prepared and dressed appropriately when conducting interviews (Warren & Karner, 2014). It is also crucial that your audio equipment is ready to go. You should always allow respondents to ask questions about the interview and before you begin recording have them sign two consent forms, one for you and one for the respondent (Warren & Karner, 2014). Then it's time for your interview to begin. After your interview, it's time to transcribe the audio for your research. Also note that although we have mainly focused on face-to-face interviews there are also different ways to conduct interviews, with multiple people and electronically.

You can also collect data from various different types of media. There are different ways to study media, but qualitative research focuses on the cultural meanings of the media representations (Warren & Karner, 2014). Public documents published by local and national governments, magazines, and newspapers are all useful for sociological research and are analyzed for their advertising and editorial content (Warren & Karner, 2014). The study of this type of media is useful because what is being depicted in these sources is what the media wants society to aspire to be (Warren & Karner, 2014). We can connect these sources to everyday life and to different sociological theories. It is important to choose media that relates to the topic you are interested in. Magazines and newspapers are a lot easier to gain access too, compared to historical documents. Photographs, films, and videos are also used in qualitative research. Using this type of media gives researchers access to another means of perception of social life (Warren & Karner, 2014). Pictures can also help with your field study. They can help you remember what environments looked like and who was there (Warren & Karner, 2014). Some researchers also use participant-produced images which are images that document a person's life (Warren & Karner, 2014). It helps researchers understand their respondents lived experiences. The internet is also another place that holds a lot of valuable data. However, you can't believe everything that is on the internet and identities and behaviors seen on the internet are often seen as deviant (Warren & Karner, 2014). Therefore, you must treat internet material as data for analysis not as facts (Warren & Karner, 2014). Overall, technology specifically the internet has changed the way researchers not only collect data but communicate with respondents (Warren & Karner, 2014).

Methods: Ethnography

            I observed an educational center that promotes diversity three times in two weeks. My first participant observation was on November 5, 2018 at around 3pm. My second observation took place on November 7, 2018 around 3:30pm and my last observation took place on November 9, 2018 at around 4pm. I went to the center on the college campus for all three observations and there were many people there from students, to student coordinators, to the manager of the center. The first observation lasted about an hour and a half, the second observation lasted about 45 minutes, and the last observation lasted a little more than an hour.

I focused on different theoretical concepts as well as thick description in my research. The theoretical concepts I used were statuses and roles, the definition of the situation, frontstage and backstage, and meaningful action. I analyzed my data using a software called Nvivo. This software allowed me to run word frequency queries as well as text search queries on my data. Nvivo also allowed me to create nodes and subnodes which were, statuses and roles, definition of the situation, frontstage and backstage, meaningful action, and thick description. Nvivo helped me organize and better understand my data by showing patterns in the data such as the most frequently used words.

Overall, I am very satisfied with the data collected as well as the process. This was my first time conducting a qualitative research and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This educational center strives to make the college campus a welcoming environment to all students and it was a rewarding experience for me. I gathered a lot of useful information on the center and realized how important it is to pay attention to all aspects of an environment, not just the frontstage of everything. It also made me a much better observer and listener. It's amazing what you find when you sit down and observe social interactions. We live in a world where people interact all the time and it's important to give those interactions meaning.

Methods: Interviews

            I interviewed three different individuals that work for the educational center that promotes diversity at a local college campus. The interviews happened on two different days. My first interview was conducted on November 25, 2018 at around 4pm, in front of the campus library. My second and third interviews were conducted on November 26, 2018 at around 3pm in a room located in the educational center. Each interview lasted from 13 to 18 minutes. During my first interview there were mostly students walking in and out of the the library. During my second and third interview there were students, professors, and faculty walking around the center. For each interview I started off by having the interviewee sign a informed consent form that informed them that I would be recording the entire interview. I then began recording the interview with my cell phone using the voice memos app.

            While interviewing people that worked for the educational center I focused on different theoretical concepts. These concepts include statuses and roles, definition of the situation, frontstage and backstage and meaningful action. I analyzed the data I gathered from the interviews on a software called Nvivo. I ran word frequency quieres and text search queries on my data. This allowed me to see what words were used most frequently throughout my interviews as well as which text was most common. I also created nodes that helped me better organize my data. I named the nodes after each theoretical concept I was focusing on, statuses and roles, definition of the situation, frontstage and backstage and meaningful action. Nvivo also allowed me to create word clouds with different colors and designs.

Overall, I am happy with the data collected as well as the process. I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing people from the educational center. All three of my interviewees were very opened with me and I had no trouble getting them to talk. I enjoyed the connection you build with these individuals because you're actually talking to them rather than just observing them. It's a very rewarding experience.

Methods: Content Analysis

I gathered information regarding events and resources that the center provides to students. I walked into the center and collected different flyers and pamphlets that were promoting events and services that the center had to offer. I also checked the center's Facebook page and came across other flyers with more information. I used the student newspaper from campus that also had various articles about the events the center hosts to promote diversity on campus. I found these articles online on the newspaper's website.

            I focused on different theoretical concepts as well as description in my research. The theoretical concepts I used were grounds, warrants, conclusions, and ruling texts. I first scanned the flyers I collected and then uploaded them to my email. I then downloaded them to my computer and transcribed them using a free online OCR service. I was able to use NCapture for the articles I found online on the student newspaper. I then downloaded these articles directly to the software I used to analyze my data, Nvivo. Nvivo allowed me to create nodes which were, grounds, warrants, conclusions, ruling texts, and description. I also ran word frequencies on my data and was able to create two-word clouds of the words that were used the most. Nvivo helped me organize my data as well as obtain quotes for my analysis.

            Overall, I am satisfied with the data collection process. It was easy for me to obtain flyers and articles on the educational center, but I feel as if the data could have been better. The articles provided me with good information however, the flyers were a bit ineffectual. The flyers mostly contained information such as time and dates but no real information that I could relate the theoretical concepts too. 

Analysis

Analysis: Ethnography

Thick description

In my observations I focused a lot on what I saw. Thick description provides detailed information on what the educational center looked like and what I saw people in the center doing. It describes what exactly I saw when I walked in,

"As I walked into the educational center that promotes diversity at a local college campus I was surprised. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the colorful flags they had on the white walls and the bulletin boards they had outside each room. There was also a tree made of paper with pictures of people on it. This was my first time in the center so I didn't know what exactly to expect. There was color everywhere!"

 

This quote shows that the center was very colorful, color usually represents happiness so by seeing this I automatically felt welcomed. As I continued to observe the center I walked into the main office where the gist of the whole center was presented.

"I continued observing the room and noticed that there were little baskets with signs that said, Latino, Other, African American, LGBTQ+, Gender, American Indian, Asian Pacific Islander, and Cross Cultural. I walked up to the baskets and noticed different flyers in each one. They were all flyers to events happening around campus. In the African American basket I found a flyer about a cultural appropriation presentation that would be happening in the library presented by the African American panel and the Africana Studies professor. Each basket had events on their particular group."

 

The center was promoting diversity by having different events for different ethnic and cultural groups. These baskets had many flyers and pamphlets that held valuable information for students.  The center had different rooms for specific groups of people. They were all decorated differently and matched the group or ethnic group the room presented,

"I walked into a room that had a sign that said LGBTQ+ and all I saw was color. There was different colors everywhere. Rainbows were all over the place and this room felt very friendly and welcoming. There were signs and posters on the walls that said Love is Love and a flyer that said Queer talks. They had rainbows everywhere! Rainbow pillows and they also had a container of free condoms."

 

This particular quote is part of the thick description concept because it shows in detail what I saw in the LGBTQ+ room. It's a very welcoming room the promotes love and acceptance for all.

 

Statuses and Roles

 

People have certain statuses that require certain roles. For example, if your status is being a student you would play your role as a student and go to class, take notes, and do your homework. We see statuses and roles at play everyday, without even realizing it.  In the educational center that promotes diversity at a college campus there were a lot of statuses and roles at play,

"….I walked into the main office of the center, here I immediately saw roles and statues at play. There was what looked like a Hispanic young lady wearing glasses sitting at a desk. As soon as I walked in she asked me if I needed any help or if I had any questions. She was playing her role as a student coordinator. I let her know about my research project and that I was just observing. She continued to play her role as a student coordinator and asked me if I had heard about the event the educational center was hosting."

 

The young lady that was wearing glasses was worked for the educational center as a student coordinator. Her job was to make sure everyone who walked into the center was helped. She not only worked at the main office, but she also helped organize events. Her status was a student coordinator and she played her role by going to work and informing people about the services and events the educational center has to offer. The next day I went into the center for my second day of observation and while I was sitting down taking notes,

"A woman walks into the room and you could tell she holds a higher role in the center by the way the student coordinators reacted to her. They both became very attentive when she walked in and both greeted her. She mentioned that she would be back she was going to go meet up with someone who had just called her."

 

As soon as she walked out the student coordinators let me know that she was in charge of them. The way the student coordinators interacted with her showed me that her status as higher than theirs. Not long after another status and role became apparent.

"The lady immediately started giving her orders. She told her to fill up the coffee table with creamer and sugar and to make sure there were napkins. She also asked me what I was doing and I told her my name and that I was observing for a research project. She asked what kind of research project and didn't seem too fond of the idea but said it was fine that we had to move out of the main office and into the center room where they usually hold meetings."

 

The lady was the manager of the center. She had an important status and was playing her role by making sure the center was in order. There are expectations that come with the status of a manager and she was living up to the expectations by making sure her workers were doing what they should be.

Definition of the situation

 

We never know truly what's going on in any situation, but we always try to control it. The definition of the situation is different for everyone,

"You could tell she seemed a little stressed because she had mentioned she needed to have a flyer done by tomorrow. She was clicking her keyboard and mouse pretty hard, like she needed to get something done. I student walked in and she immediately put a smile on her face and asked her if she needed help."

 

In this situation the student coordinator was trying to get part of work done but the student who walked in was looking for help. The student had no idea that the student coordinator needed to get something done and was stressing out about it, she just knew she worked there and that she could help her. Therefore, they both had different definitions to the situation they were in.

"When I walked into La Casita the definition of the situation was different for the students compared to the student coordinators. The students used the space as a room to hangout and interact with other students, while the student coordinators used the space as their workplace. The definition of the situation for students is having a welcoming place on campus where they know they won't be judged and for the people who work at the center their definition is to provide this for students."

 

The center is a place for students to feel comfortable and welcomed. However, every place needs to have people in charge, so it could run smoothly. The center has workers that make sure the place is in order while students see the center as a safe place to study, hangout, and do homework.

"Immediately, one guy asked me if I wanted to join their discussion. I politely said no and introduced myself and let them know that I was working on a project and I was observing. They said that was awesome and to let them know if I had any questions."

 

The definition of the situation was different for both the students and I. I was there to observe and get work done, while the students were having a discussion. They were playing a game having a good time while I was writing down notes.

Frontstage and backstage

 

One of Erving Goffman's main ideas is symbolic interaction. He claimed that social life mirrors the theater life. There is a frontstage and backstage to our lives and that could be seen in the educational center I observed.

"They were both hard at work and the young lady wearing the burgundy shirt would stop working on her flyer and answer the phone every time it rang. She also made phone calls and was confirming an upcoming event that was about body positivity."

 

When students and staff attend the events, they don't realize the work it takes to coordinate them. These student coordinators put a lot of time and effort into making sure these events turn out the way they want them too. The front stage is the actual event which is what the audience sees, and the backstage is the student coordinators getting ready for the event by making flyers, contracting speakers, and making sure everything is just right.

"….he had a rather interesting personality. He looked like he hadn't slept in a couple of days. He looked around the room and then threw himself on the couch. He said he had a long day and that he was ready to go home. They all began talking and discussing work."

 

This quote represents the backstage of life. This young man had just clocked out of work and was ready to go home. He looked around the room to make sure it was okay for him to act the way he was acting. He didn't want his manager or certain students to see that he was stressed out. This young man would not be acting like this while he was on the clock.

"As the meeting was coming to an end they all participated in a chant. They were being super loud and some of the people at the meeting seemed to be a little obnoxious. The leader of the meeting would say a phrase and then everyone else would repeat it and each time she wanted them to be louder. Some students really tried to be loud and it almost sounded like they were squeaking."

 

This quote mirrors the backstage life. These students were participating in a club meeting and were being themselves. They would not act this way in class in front of professors or at work in front of their bosses.

Meaningful action

 

We give meanings to actions everyday. We constantly do things to get the reactions we want from others.

"There was also colorful candles that reminded me of the candles my grandma use to have. However, these didn't have any saints on them. There was also blankets on the wall that were colorful. I could relate to this room because I am Mexican so a lot of things that are in this room I have seen in my own home."

 

The meanings behind the decorations in the room are meant to relate to certain people. This room was particularly designed for Latino/ Latina students, since I am Latina I was able to relate to things in the room and that made me feel at home. This is what the student coordinators of the center want, they want students to be able to relate to the center in a meaningful way.

"The poster said 460 Years Of Chicano History under it. This poster also had many historical figures. From the Mayan calendar to Cesar Chavez a lot of these figures were familiar. The Cesar Chavez bird really stood out to me. The bird represents the movement Cesar Chavez lead which was the united farm workers movement. This movement protested better work conditions for people working in the fields. I found this interesting because in that same room I heard the students talking about working in the fields. These people's actions were meaningful to these students and these actions are what makes sociology."

 

The posters in the room hold a lot of meaning to students. They have historical figures that get certain reactions from people. Cesar Chavez protested better work conditions for people working in the fields and the students in this specific room still worked in the fields, so Cesar Chavez is a meaningful person to these students. The reaction these students have to posters on the wall are positive and help the center fulfill their overall mission.

"As I was listening to the students talk I heard one student say he doesn't like speaking english because he's not fluent. Another student made a joke and said why speak it when you could save it right? They all laughed so I could tell they were all comfortable with each other. I also noticed a No Ban No Wall sign on the wall that immediately reminded me of Trump. During his campaign it was obvious that he had strong feelings towards immigrants and that sign showed that they don't necessarily agree with what's going on in our world today."

 

Latino/Latina groups were a target during the last presidential campaign. For the center to have posters that show disagreement to issues that discriminate against certain ethnic groups is very meaningful. The students react in a way that makes them want to come to school and make the world a better place.

Analysis: Interviews

Statuses and roles

One of Erving Goffman main ideas was that social life mirrors the theater. He believed that we are all actors on stage and therefore, we have statuses and roles we play. During the interviews I conducted I was able to find various information on statuses and roles that were being played in the center.

"My role as a student coordinator is to organize cultural events on campus. Yeah, it's creating flyers to market events, marketing events and sending flyers out electronically and physically. Just trying get people to show up to the event and networking and working with other groups on campus so i'd say yeah thats my role kinda being a peoples person to some extent."

 

This individual's status is a student coordinator and he plays his role as a student coordinator by organizing cultural events. He also responds to other people based on their statuses,

"You know obviously I have to do my job so I have to you know present the appearance but I have to do my job. I think when they are not there the student coordinators a little more free, right it's just me and my peers but when my bosses are there it's more formal and we know we have to get our work done or at least appear like we're getting our work done."

When his boss is in the center he knows he has to do his work and appear like he is getting his work done. The status of a boss is one of the highest statuses in the center, so the student coordinators know they need to act formal when they are around. That's also part of their role as a student coordinator, they need to respond to their bosses in a respectful way.

             "I respond to them kindly, with respect because they are my supervisors."

This quote from another interviewee always shows statuses and roles at play. She responds to her supervisors in a kindly, respectful way because of their status. Another interviewee also describes statuses and roles,

"…..plan for the event so if we're ordering food we'll make the form and we'll show it to her, she'll look at it and she'll sign it and then if we need some help or we're stuck on something we go and ask her for her but it's mainly by this time you know what you're supposed to do and she's just there to let us know."

This quote shows the status and roles of both the student coordinator and their supervisors. Student coordinators play their role by preparing for the cultural events which may include ordering food and their supervisor will either sign and approve the form or deny it.

Definition of the situation

            William I. Thomas an important sociologist, discusses what we call the definition of the situation. We never know what's actually going on in any situation and we are always trying to control it, we always want people to believe our definition for every situation.

"….so I was like okay thats how I'm gonna connect what I do to the book so I promote my event I said look i'm going to take this opportunity to promote my event it's happening tomorrow and I just put the flyer on the screen and I said this is what the event is about and I was getting points for my work I was getting double credit right so I get paid for my work and at that point I wasn't getting paid because I was in class but I was still promoting my work it was still overlapping."

This quote is an example of the definition of the situation. This student coordinator was in a situation where he needed to do an assignment for class and took that opportunity to promote his work event. The definition of the situation for him was getting a good grade on his assignment while also getting people to go to his event. For the professor, the definition could've been extremely different. 

"So i've been in situations where you know I accidentally offend people and it wasn't intentional but people got their feelings hurt and I had to apologize and that's a weird place to be because you have to admit that you're wrong or maybe your mind wasn't as open and so yeah you just gotta keep an open mind and admit your wrong and be honest about the situation and you know everything will be okay."

 

This quote also shows the definition of the situation. Being a student coordinator requires you to work with a diverse group of people. This individual has been in situations where him and other people have not had the same definition and people end up getting offended and hurt. He assumed the way some people identify because of the way they look, they were in the same situation but had different definitions.

"I make a flyer right and I take it to my supervisor my boss and they don't like it and they are like go make these changes because they think they know best. Even though you might really like the flyer and think its good they might have a different opinion on it and since you're working for them you kinda gotta tailor your work to what they like or be able to take that cristicm."

 

This quote shows that both the student coordinators and supervisors have different definitions to situations. The student coordinators might think their flyers are amazing but when they take it to their supervisor their supervisor might not agree. They both have different definitions of the same thing.

"….they're still welcomed so then we have to catch them up on something oh this and this happened you have to follow these instructions here are your tools so you don't really listen to that workshop or participate, you are more worried about the attendees."

When the student coordinators host workshops they need to make sure that the students are taken care of and that they have all the tools they need. The workshop itself is a fun, welcoming event for students while for the student coordinators it's their jobs. The students are worried about having a good time at the workshop, while the student coordinators are worried about making sure the workshop runs smoothly and that the students are taken care of.

Frontstage and backstage

            Goffman believed that we are all actors on stage and that we are always performing. There's a frontstage and backstage to everything we do.

"Yeah sometimes when they like tell you or like when you plan something and then they change it like that really stresses me out because I'm like a really organized, get things done like right away type of person so when i'm doing something and then they want to change something i'm like S*** I gotta change all this stuff."

 

This quote shows the frontstage and backstage of this student coordinators life. When she's getting ready for an event and shows her boss the plans and her boss tells her to change something she becomes stressed. This is the backstage of her life because she doesn't show her boss that she's stressed she simply replies by saying that's fine but goes home and and stresses about all the stuff she needs to change.

"I did not but I was happy seeing the students happy they were so happy with the things they built that I was completely fine with it but they just came in did what they had to do and then left as opposed to me that I had to come in early set up and clean up."

 

This quote shows a student coordinator describing a workshop event they planned. The frontstage was the event itself, where the students went to weave different things. The students didn't see the backstage of the event which was when the student coordinators got there early to set up and then stayed after to clean up.

"So at work I am more professional I try to be more professional doesn't always work out because now my coworkers have become my friends and it's a little harder to set that line but still professional versus class I am very serious I prefer not to talk, unless it's class participation. In class I am very focused on topic and then at home I'm just myself, I'm louder, I don't have a filter, I'm just myself."

 

One of the student coordinators referred to school and work as her frontstage and home as her backstage. At work she acts professional and in class she is very serious. She's performing on stage for her bosses and professors to view her a certain way. At home she says she's louder, and she doesn't have a filter. She's done being on stage when she's at home because no one is watching her, and she could finally be "herself".

"When I was a student I would come into the center and feel just as a student but now as an employee of this center it does feel a little different. I go into the room and instead of sitting down and doing my homework when it's my time off I look and I think to myself oh that poster could be changed oh I need to switch that thing, oh there's no tissues in here or oh we ran out of business cards."

 

The definition of the situation changed for this student coordinator as soon as she started working at the center.

Meaningful Action

            The educational center's mission is to provide a safe, welcoming environment for all students. They plan and host events to get reactions from not only students, but the campus as a whole.

 "I mean I think when we put flyers out and promote an event what we expect is for people to show up and support we expect support because if we're not putting on events that people could relate too than we're not doing our jobs right so it's kinda an indication of where we are.."

The meaning behind the events is to get reactions from students. The center puts on events that students can relate too in order to get a reaction from them.

"Definitely, since we are Latino/Latina programs and services we try to incorporate things from certain parts of the world. There's things specifically from Mexico, we have different flags of spanish speaking countries. So we have Honduras we have Mexico obviously, we have different parts of the world we even have United States because that is one of the languages we speak here."

 

The way they set up certain rooms in the center it to get reactions from students. They want students to relate to the rooms, so they can feel safe and welcomed and want to return to the center.

"It was interesting people I see as leaders in the community seeing them wanted to talk to this guy I had people tell me yeah i really connected with this part or this really made me feel like what i'm doing is good in the moment it really reinforced certain things for certain people and I really liked that people were able to connect with what he was saying so I think it is meaningful for other people."

 

The people the center hire for events also have meaning. They can relate to not just the students, but the staff and faculty as a whole.

Analysis: Content Analysis

When I analyzed my data, I created two word clouds. The first word cloud consists of the 1,000 most frequently used words.

The second word cloud consists of the 10 most frequently used words.

Description

            One of the nodes I created was description. The flyers I collected during my research consisted of a lot of description of events and services.

            Reference 1 - 6.37% Coverage

"The "La Posada" event included traditional Latin dishes, such as tamales and posole, singing, dancing and some folklore of the culture. Flameless candles were also passed out to honor and pray for those suffering from mental, emotional or physical stress or disability during this holiday season."

 

This quote came from the student newspaper and shows description because they are describing the event the center hosted called "La Posada". This is a Latin event and they describe the type of food they had as well as what they did.

Reference 1 - 4.06% Coverage

"Sitting with feet flat, closing eyes and feeling grounded is how they start. Students either listen to a long chime, or the teacher guides a meditation."

 

This is another quote that shows description. The center opened a meditation center for students to pray and meditate. This describes what the students or teachers do when they go to the meditation center.

            Reference 1 - 3.17% Coverage

"A crowd of students and community members of all ages cheered and laughed with each Native American topic brought up in the performance – including dreamcatchers, ancient burial grounds, powwows and prayers and sexuality."

 

This quote describes the way the audience of the event reacted. They all cheered and laughed and were clearly enjoying the event. It also describes the type of topics that were brought up at the event.

Grounds

 

Grounds include information and evidence about a certain condition. Grounds give evidence and statistics of the troubling condition.

Reference 1 - 3.02% Coverage

"A room in the Library is providing students and faculty with a place to meditate and pray on campus."

 

This quote is an example of a ground because it informs us of what exactly the center is providing for not only students but faculty as well. The center is going to provide a safe space for people to meditate and pray on campus.

            Reference 1 - 2.07% Coverage

"Each cast member has a different monologue to recite, with topics ranging from the truths of having a vagina, to the multiple, varying experiences of being a woman."

 

This quote from the school newspaper also provides an example of a ground because one of the events the center hosted was about being a woman. It shows us what the event will be about and and what type of topics they will be discussing. Women are seen as minorities in this country so this is definitely a condition that needs to be talked about.

Reference 1 - 2.23% Coverage

"A discussion entitled "Discussing Whiteness" was hosted by the educational center that promotes diversity on Feb. 3 in a bid to create an open dialogue about the origin, what it means to be white and how to be a social justice activist."

White privilege is a social problem that is hard for some people to talk about. The center was providing students and faculty with the opportunity to have an open dialogue about what it means to be white and how to be a social justice activist. This is quote shows us what the event was about and when the event took place.

Warrants

 

            Warrants include information on why something needs to be done about a certain condition. Warrants appeal to values and and emotions.

            Reference 1 - 2.54% Coverage                                              

"Some religious cultures pray two to six times a day. The room provides a quiet place to do so."

 

This quote is an example of a warrant because it shows us why the center needed to provide a room for students and faculty to pray and meditate. Some religious cultures pray two to six times a day and this is exactly why the educational center will be providing a room for those individuals.

            Reference 1 - 2.48% Coverage

"It's a space for people to come together to learn what is whiteness, what is a white identity, how does anti racist work fit in with the white identity. And specifically, how can white people move forward in working against racism and working for social justice."

 

This quote is referencing an event the educational center hosted about race. Race is a social problem, and something needs to be done about it. The center put on this event to spread awareness and educate students on how we can work towards social justice.

            Reference 2 - 3.53% Coverage

"It makes me nervous, but it's expected. As you can see nationally, it's very standard when white people who want to keep the status quo and don't want things to change," she said. "They are invested in keeping white people in power. If they sense that you're going to talk about whiteness being power, they get very afraid. For me that's where that comes from. It's racist."

 

This quote is also an example of a warrant because it references values and emotions. This individual feels nervous about the event the center will host but knows that something needs to be done about racism.

Conclusions

 

Grounds include information and evidence about a certain condition, warrants include information on why something needs to be done about the condition, and conclusions specify what should be done.

Reference 2 - 4.48% Coverage

"I feel like this event is important because Latinos are from all different countries, but events like this remind us that, even though we are from different areas, we can still be reminded of our native land."

 

What the educational center did was host an event that reminded Latinos of their native land. Many of the people who go to the educational center are Latinos and hosting an event like this provides them a safe space that reminds them of home.

Reference 2 - 2.04% Coverage

"The majority of the event's attendees were people of color, but Adams does not want that to deter others from coming to the event. The event is meant for people of all backgrounds to have a healthy discussion on race."

 

This quote from the student newspaper provides an example of an action because it's providing students a place to have a healthy discussion on race. Racism is a problem in the United States and the center is doing something about the problem, which is giving people a chance to talk about race in a safe environment.

Reference 1 - 4.46% Coverage

"Most people, if you ask them, will say, 'Who are transgender people?' They're just as confused as anybody else, but when you can host an event that brings people together and use the art of poetry to bring people to the table," F said, "then they're exposed to that."

 

The center is hosting an event to bring people together. They are using the art of poetry to bring people to the table and discuss transgender people. The action is exposing people to different identities.

Ruling text

Ruling texts include the mission statement of an organization.

 

Reference 1 - 2.56% Coverage

"We are always trying to do different events that have cross-cultural interaction and having different cultures learn about each other and experience different things."

 

This educational center strives to eliminate racism, sexism, heterosexism, and other forms of oppression by providing programs and services to students. This quote shows an example of ruling text because they are always trying to host events to have interaction and have different cultures learn and experience different things.

Reference 1 - 16.50% Coverage

"The Center exists to contribute significantly to the continued development of a safe and welcoming environment for the community. We foster meaningful dialogue and activism that works to eliminate racism, sexism, heterosexism, and other forms of oppression. Our values are based on the feminist principles of equality, intersectionality, and human rights. The center is a community that works toward creating an atmosphere where students, faculty, staff and administrators are empowered and supported in their efforts to lead successful lives--academically, professionally, and personally."

This flyer was promoting the educational center. It was informing students and faculty of the purpose of the room. To provide a welcoming environment for everyone!

Reference 1 - 3.59% Coverage

"Welcoming every group and every issue counts when it comes to diversity at this college campus," L said. "We encourage input and participation from every aspect of the University community as we continue to work toward being an ever more culturally competent institution of higher education."

 

This quote is also an example of ruling texts. The college campus is going to work towards a more culturally competent institution of higher education, which is the mission of the whole center.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I found many sociological theories presented in my research. By observing this educational center that promotes diversity and interviewing students who work there I was able to see how the center provides a safe, welcoming place to students.  The main theories found in my research include statuses and roles, definition of the situation, frontstage and backstage, and meaningful action. These are all important theories that help us understand the way people interact, and the meaning people give to these interactions. I was also able to analyze content I collected from the educational center. This mainly gave me data on the events the center hosted and how these events helped students.  Although work at the center isn't easy they do it for the reactions they get from students and staff. The center is filled with different statuses and roles that help the center thrive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

Carol A. B. Warren and Tracy Xavia Karner. 2014. Discovering Qualitative Methods:

Ethnography, Interviews, Documents, and Images, Third Edition. Oxford University Press.

Dillon, Michele. 2013. Introduction to Sociological Theory: Theorists, Concepts, and their

Applicability to the Twenty-First Century. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.

Sandstrom, Kent, Daniel Martin, and Gary Alan Fine. 2009. "Symbols Selves and Social Reality." 3^rd ed. Oxford University Press.