Alpha Alpha Beta

I observed a fraternity here on campus to understand how they interact with each other, with those outside the group, and the theories that can be used to realize this group better. I observed the group in three settings each with an hour each, two being in a meeting setting, the other at a charity event run by this organization. It is clear that members of this organization have roles, statuses, act differently depending on the situation displaying front stage and backstage behaviors, and use the definition of the situation.    

I Interviewed members of one local fraternity chapter at Fresno State who spend their time attempting to create a brotherhood under their five pillars which are: Silence, Patriotism, Charity, Honor, and Purity. Members of this organization must go through a pledge process in which their sole mission is to learn about the organization and follow these pillars. This group is also known as a social fraternity and frequently participates in philanthropies, parties, and brotherhood events. I interviewed four members of this group all male to gain unique perspectives on how they interpret their chapter, how they run their chapter, and how they react to each other. The four interviews give me a total of over an hour of material to work with. I used sociological theories to help interpret their answers in a structured manner. All of the interviews were conducted at the University with only one member knowing me on a personal level. I tried to get the interviewee to focus on themselves, looking glass self, frontstage, backstage, and finally what roles they have throughout their tenure in this fraternity

In this section, I analyzed different, posts, and content that members of Alpha Alpha Beta have produced. This organization focuses on bringing in ambitious and ready college male students to join this Fraternity from across the country. The documents I overlooked and reviewed involve those apart of this Fraternity from a national and local perspective. The records include public events, biographies of past members, meeting minutes, news articles, social media accounts, and flyers advertising the Fraternity. To fulfill the 30-document requirement, I had to extend my documents to reports on a national level. However, I tried to rely most information on to the local chapter. I focus my nodes on collective action framing to help explain how this group sees the world and explain their reasoning on why they do the things they choose to do.

This was by far the most challenging time I had when trying to find the data necessary to analyze. It wasn't that my group wasn't producing articles and such to the public it was more so that local chapter recently has failed to keep up with the need to do so. Also, with the new age of social media, pictures are used more frequently than posts with actual content. However, once I was able to find the database that is accessible to all students in the past minutes, I was able to meet the requirements for this class. I also expanded my search articles from a national standpoint on Alpha Alpha Beta's values. This gave me a lot more content on what this organization wants to bring in recruiting new members and keeping alumni involved.

Literature Review

Symbolic Interactionism is a theory that explains all of the concepts below. The first step into understanding any of these concepts is that we are continually looking for meaning through our interactions. Now further into detail, this concept can be broken down into four essential parts. The first point is that we as human beings manipulate symbols. Looking also we are the only species that have developed cultures with different social norms and meanings behind them. Specialists in this field known as an interactionist focus on how sense comes out through language or other forms of communication and how fluid or vague it may be. The second point is how meaning comes out meaning that because there are so many variables and unique combinations in finding meaning whereas the attention may be fixed the outcomes are always different. The third point reminds the readers that humans are continually connecting and communicating with others. Therefore, we do specific actions to please others and then interpret what others think of us otherwise known as looking glass. The last point is that behind all these meanings from these interactions are possible social patterns that we all try to play in the grand scheme of life to fit in society(Symbolic Interationism 2018). Social Interactionism is a concept that has received criticism over the years for not reviewing social structure but later was revised to focus on micro-sociological analysis.

Developed by William I. Thomas and a fundamental concept of symbolic interactionism focuses on the distinctive qualities of a social situation. Through this definition, we can discovere our roles in the case and define other purposes as well. A favorite question of mine to ask interviewees may be how do you know when to act professional or casual? For example, when a student enters a classroom, they immediately are understanding the definition of the situation based on the environment and the mood created by the teacher. The role is then defined and with that comes certain expectations of the student. The definition of the situation is often associated with the idea of framing, construction, and how presentation defines the position (Wikipedia). Dillon also makes a note of the definition of the situation where he points out how society defines our conditions for us, therefore, interfering of our individual choice. That when a child is born and is continuously interacting and growing all the situations were created for that child. So dependent on one's class level or race can already predetermine on how that child may turn out in the future. The definition of the situation can possibly explain issues that affect the central valley and problems such as poverty and work mobility across the globe. When observing I ask myself what possible backgrounds or situations before this moment has affected how the group views their leader today?  

In 1902 Charles Cooley developed the idea of the looking glass self which is the process where we imagine what others think of us, and then self evaluate these evaluations.  Jennifer Dunn reviews this concept and shows us how it is relevant to psychology and sociology. The Looking Glass Self shows us how we interpret empathy and prejudice. The first of the three steps of the looking-glass self is what we think of our self-appearance is to another person. Then we imagine the persons judgment or what we see in ourselves. Now that one understands their appearance, and what the other person may think of them they begin to interpret or make sense of their new self-identity based on their perception of what the other person thinks of them. This can either create pride in oneself or mortify an individual(Looking Glass Self). One question I may ask is how your best friends would describe you?  Cooley observed children and concluded that they make conclusions about those closest to them. This is how infants make sense and create relations with their caregivers; they understand their bodies and what they are in control of. This is how a child may start to manipulate those around them to achieve what they want. Adult's self-looking glass is more complicated than an infant, and what they try to gain or manage tend to be subtle. The interaction becomes the only meaningful where oneself is in contrast to society's desire. Cooley argues that children learn how to sympathize with others because of family members teaching them through appropriation. Cooley's concept allows us to understand on possibly why we make the decisions we make and goes touches on the topic of Symbolic Interactionism showcasing how we impute meaning around us and make sense of these interactions. Cooley's looking-glass self also allowed the development of the sociology of emotions which focuses on how social situations and societal norms can affect our feelings. By understanding this concept, we are able to know how we try to express ourselves primarily based on what others want of us. Another question that one should try to understand is how other's perceptions might affect our decisions?

In chapter four of "The Nature and Significance of Self" opens up an idea that every college student goes through. Its the last semester of college and one is continually struggling to keep up with classes trying to stay motivated while questioning their major at the same time. Then with a stroke of luck, the student gets a job interview at their dream job. They call their friend who tells them to be themselves, which goes into our concept of what our presentation of self is. A question I may ask an interviewee could be how do you present yourself to your parents compared to your professors? The author explains to us that our presentation of self is fluid and variable because there are many versions of ourselves.

Conversely, symbolic interactionists disagree on how one's self can transcend or change their behavior. Interactionists focus their attention on three concepts the first being "self as a social process" the process contains having an inner conversation which monitors our creative, spontaneous responses. The second concept brought up when it comes to the presentation of self is "self as a social structure." An example gives by the text explains that when one is part of a university, they begin to think of themselves as a student. They then create this idea of their student self and reflect on what it means to be a part of that community. Then the author defines the structure and contents of the person. This structure and contents look at not only one define themselves, but also their behaviors. The text makes a point that there are multiple versions of one's self including physical and mutable. That all creates an image on what presentation of self is. Which tells us that we have to maintain a consistent manner of what we present to others and that we are continually performing on a stage to showcase yourself to others. So when observing others, I will ask myself what the most essential qualities this person is trying to present to the group are?

The first step in understanding what Goffman meant with Frontstage and Backstage interviewing ins understanding what we may use this for. In this article, it is reviewed that there is a process called iterated questioning approach (IQA). There is a process in which that follows which is first establishing the baseline, eliciting frontstage talk, going backstage, and eliciting backstage conversation. The first stage is found baseline iterated question where the Interviewer asks an issue that has a brief answer such as "yes" or "no." So a question that I may ask someone during an interview is, do you attend Fresno State? Once one does that we start entering frontstage which is where the respondent will give answers or a performance in which they think the interviewer might want to hear. When the Interviewee is more comfortable, they start to move into backstage where they will share more visceral stories and give us more insight into their roles(Sociological Methodology). Goffman describes the backstage is what we actually do or think when no one is looking. About the presentation of one's self this is the interviewee's true self and if found throughout an interview can be beneficial information. Once Backstage talk is established it is vital that the interviewer asks a two-part question. First, you ask who this person is very close to, and then you ask the same problem earlier on how they would describe it to their friend. The answers are given now are in much more detail on why the interviewee makes the decisions they make. When observing others, I may consider what cliques are established within this group? That way I may have a better idea on who this person trust.

We do not act one specific way for our everyday life, and we are continually performing on a stage to present ourselves in a respectful manner that fits societies needs of us. With that said it should also be noted that we all have multiple roles we play with an expected behavior behind each action we take. These social roles include being a son, brother, student, worker, boss, and etc. These roles have expectations on how they should act. For example, something I may ask an interviewee is what qualities make up a great son? I also may ask what conditions make up an ungrateful son? By understanding one's social roles, you are able to define the person holistically, and one should even understand three things. First, one cannot determine a person without their social roles or independent of these social roles, there are other people involved with your social functions, and lastly, we are always responding to another person's performance (Dillon 2013). In addition to these roles also help us establish what behavior is needed per role. When observing the group, I will ask myself what are the roles of the leaders of this group and how do the members respond based on hierarchy within the group? By understanding social roles we also appreciate the same structure it provides for us to act on these roles(Sandstorm 2006).

After reviewing these concepts and theories and dissecting each subtopic, I am able to understand how these theories affect our daily lives. I am also more prepared to give actual interviews in which the interviewee is both insightful and comfortable to provide me the information needed for this class. I can also reevaluate my life in regards to these concepts to understand better what others may want from me so that I present my most professional self.

Ethnography is the descriptions and studies of groups and cultures. With that being said the first step is selecting the setting for one's group. This is typically picked by students who evaluate whether their setting has appropriate access, interest, and cost of the setting. An ethnographer has to also the logistics of geographical proximity, one needs to be close to the group to have proper access to the group; so its extremely important to start where you are as a field researcher. Other issues include ethics, or whether one has similar beliefs to the group. There is also an importance of the presentation of self where a researcher must dress appropriately, act in a certain way and create an impression that makes the group feel comfortable. When entering a setting there are gatekeepers and key informants that are crucial in understanding one's group. The Gatekeeper is the person who can grant entry or denial into the group whereas the key informant is the person who knows the group very well and sometimes plays a behind the role scene. Lastly, ethnographers may use a go along mentality to understand the group by shadowing or having informal interviews.

There are certain aspects of the chapter I need to review before continuing and that is stating what roles, embodiment, and incorporation are in terms of ethnography. Roles refers to the behaviors of an individual, embodiment refers to characteristics, and incorporation refers to how people define us as the researcher. The research can pose many roles including as the group's mascot or on the other side as the spy. This is how the group interprets the researcher. When conducting quality research one should also focus on the rich perspectives and variety of emotions of the process. There are also other extremes such as sex and violence that can be studied.

Writing proper fieldnotes means that the ethnographer must write in the thick description, which is where we as researches utilize every detail in the process of action or behavior. It is preferred that one uses a recorder so they can truly observe the group if possible and then write notes or utilize other technology like computers to help create the best field notes. Also, fieldnotes need to be done in a timely manner so that one's memory is fresh. One should make sure that real names are not used in the field notes and there is a proper use of grammar. The key to great field notes is the inscription, rescription, reading, and rereading to ensure quality notes.

Chapter six in the textbook tries to take research questions and utilize them in an interview setting. The need is more specifically on developing proper qualitative research and the focus of structure when asking questions, not quantitative research. They do not focus on questions such as demographics, but on the quality of research. One tool that is used continually is probing the information to get more details from respondents. The goal is to obtain "elicit narratives" so that we can find meaning from the other person's life. There is also a need for confidentiality from one's interviewee's and code names to rename anonymously. There are many ways to conduct an interview which can include: group interviews, internet-based interviews, couple interviews, and focus groups. To do this one needs to coordinate with the people to plan the interview properly, and have information before meeting with a group.

Chapter 7 focuses on the actual interaction of the interview for a qualitative study. It should be known that the interview should be eased into the setting and with the use of technology. It is necessary to make the interviewee comfortable so that they can answer the questions truthfully. Some interviewers try to match their interviews based on the group, but it is also important to not necessarily do so and focus on the individual. The questions dont always have to be open-ended questions. There should also be follow-up questions like "What do you mean by that" to gain more information. Respondents at the end of an interview can either prolong the interview and want to talk more or be on a time crunch and want to end quickly. Transcription technology is beneficial but should be monitored afterward or enhanced with a microphone to help know the difference from the interviewer and the interviewee. Once one transcribes an interview in the proper format, you are ready for the interview.

To help make meaning of this world sociologists take the time to look into media representation of groups which is often referred to one's culture which included documents, magazines, videos, computers, etc. When analyzing magazines one should focus on what specific era, magazine, and what section one is studying or what group it affects. When evaluating historical documents, one is focusing on the periods relative to other areas around the globe. Some documents are considered primary which are original sources from that period which are more useful to analyze. When evaluating an image one must focus on what it is, the content, who took it, when, and why they chose the picture. Photographic surveys are often used to compare with other historic photographs. The Internet has also revolutionized and changed the way we collect data making interviews more accessible through Skype, and all the data that is available through the web. Security of data tends to be a common issue when evaluating these resources such as emails that could be compromised. These are just a few of the problems that can arise in this new data. However, using media is a considerable advantage when conducting qualitative research.

Fieldnotes, transcripts, documents, and Images all can help create thick descriptive data for us to interpret. It is then at times likely that students or researchers can be overwhelmed by this data. The analysis process is crucial in understanding the information which often takes much re-reading the data collected. This first step in doing this is understanding where one wants to end up when analyzing the data. Some questions we should be asking when analyzing the data include what, why and how questions. This is what is usually considered as analytic descriptions. It should be known to the public that all questions might not be answered instead that the knowledge gained can be done by listening to multiple respondents. Also understanding the time and place of the interaction is essential.It is vital to make connections or themes with the data taken, develop interpretations or connections from these themes, and validate the data by showing the relationship of the data to the people. One can also seek external validation from other colleagues or professors. One is not looking for just validation but also reliability in regards to the data. Analysis requires multiple steps to help understand what has been collected in the process.

Analysis

I observed the fraternity in the span of few weeks. I not only played the Martian role, as well as in one of the events I participated a little bit to maintain balance and gain acceptance in the group. This will fare well for me when I want to conduct interviews. I observed on three different scenarios one being a philanthropic event, one being a normal meeting, and one being an emergency meeting set by the alumni board. This allowed me to observe the Fraternity from different angles and allowed me to also give up my personal biases to this organization and focus on the interactions of the group.

The first observation I conducted was on March 18th at 8:01 PM which was hosted in the Science 1 building. In this observation I maintained Martian role and simply observed how thee members conducted a meeting. The next observation took place on March 28th 8:02 PM which was a philanthropic event hosted by Alpha Alpha Beta Fraternity and was open to the public, but officially invited all Greek fraternities on campus. In this observation I also participated to help around a bit to maintain compoure and gain trust within this group. The last observation took place on April 8th at 8:15 PM. This was a meeting that incorporated alumni in the group and has unique observations. In this last observation I also maintained Martian role.

In all my observations I tried to maintain Martian role and use thick description to describe the situation. Afterwards I read my field notes to anylyze the data with sociological theories we learned in class. The ones that were very clear was frontstage backstage, roles, status, and meaningful action. I then took this information and plugged in NVivo. This program allowed me to analyze my data into unique nodes breaking down my data. I analyzed and organized my data by creating nodes and forming word-frequency queries. Lastly I took my data to break down what words were the most used which turned out to be members

Though the collection of the data was long it was really interesting taking the approach I did as a Martian role. In almost every activity on campus I try to take an active role in partipating. It was a nice change to switch to a fly on a wall that forced me to just observe. This allowed me to look at my previous Fraternity in a different light and more on the business end of the organization. I did not use a recorder to gain trust in the group, so I just typed on my computer.

Analysis

Thick Description

        Through the three observations I was able to find multiple moments where I could use Thick description to describe my observations. In these observations I focused on the actions of the brothers and the reactions to certain scenarios.

       

Reference 2 - 2.75% Coverage

The president then sighs and says" Alright guys I know its been a long semester lets get out of here so I have a motion to adjourn" multiple hands fill the air as the chapter uniformly responds with I. President then speaks and says "Alright this Meeting is officially adjourned at 10:05 PM, if anyone wants to grab some wings, let me know."( president). \

I believe that this quote from the president showcased the exact time that they adjourn and showcase the mood of the president by the end of the meeting.

I wash my hands and scrubbing with soap for at least 30 seconds then first throwing some water on the ground from my hands then using one paper towel to its fullest ensuring that all the water is taken from my hands followed by some air drying then putting on my gloves right hand first. Take a plate from the cabinet and wait for Chipotle to hand me the Carne Asada meat for the tacos.

Reference 3 - 3.13% Coverage

When Nationals calls me because you guys don't know how to pay a bill that's a problem. We did not work so hard so that you all could throw it away because you don't pay dues. You pay to be here and at the end of the month there is a bill and this life if you dont pay that then big brother comes and gets its money one way or another". The room gets quiet for a while then one brave soul raises his hand.

The alumni went into so much detail and passion when going over this topic I found it extremely descriptive.

Frontstage

        It was absolutely unreal how different front stage and back stage were from each other. It Here are some clear examples of front stage in the document.

        "Don't worry we have gloves, wash your hands, and "Chipotle does all the cooking you just have to deliver"(Einstein)

Einstein is clearly trying to make up for the behavior of Chipotle in this interaction ensuring me that there are health precautions taking place.

Reference 2 - 3.00% Coverage

"Alright Brothers who want to lead us in the flag salute, Also where is the Flag… Alright, I guess no one thought about that one so let's just do it in the general direction" (Brother Board Member). As the flag salute is being recited I look around to see some smiling faces, while others are as serious as one could be.

Reference 3 - 2.05% Coverage

"Alright boys you are good for the night the rest of you sit tight"(Education). The new members leave happily and as the door closes the Alumni member stands up with his cowboy boots and appears to be in his mid-twenties. He begins pacing the room back and forth

Reference 4 - 0.77% Coverage

Nationals is coming at us, we need to be better, think about what happened and have a good night".

This last quote in particular shows that bonding between the local chapter and the national fraternity while maintain composure.

Backstage.

All the examples below showcase where the members of the fraternity simply don't care about the organization or how others view them. All they care about in the backstage is what may be entertain or showcase who they really are.

        Person in the back then responds by saying " you have to say it in a jingle tone otherwise I won't pay"(Jerry in the back)

Right behind me, a member is streaming an NBA game on low volume.

One member, in particular, is reclined back in his seat tie wrapped around his neck instead of dropping downward and slowly takes his phone to look at Twitter comments. There is a slight smirk as he comes across a specific comment.

I walk over the room I the back where smoke fills the air and music is blasting through stereo speakers I am approached by Chipotle and "Einstein". Chipotle energetically greets me with "What's up Broo!

Roles

        I noticed the roles that many of the employees had to abide by. One of them was,

       

"Hey man good to see ya. Just Venmo (Philanthropy) when you can.

        This showcases a particular role of philanthropy character who's goal was not to greet me, but to get money from me.

Alumni then nods and says "that's good but not good enough. Look around and then realize that anytime one of you fails you fail for the entirety of this brotherhood. Think about it next time you waste your money. I hope that if I have a son that one day he could Be an Alpha Alpha Beta. I hope he gets to meet gentlemen that are ambitious and responsible. Not a bunch of fools that can't hold this chapter together. Step it up" (Alumni).

This showcases the role of the chapter as whole. The chapter not only works as individuals but as entity itself. I thought that this quote showcased that.

hey guys we can't leave our boys out to dry like that if you have problems paying for school or dues talk to me and let's find you a job on campus or something"(glass half full kind of guy)

There are always those in the group that try to play this role in seeing the  most ethical, honest, and positive role in the organization. It's in this role that allows the Fraternity to maintain some type of idea of a brotherhood.

Statuses

There are different Statuses shown in the comments below which show case the hierarchy level and respect of particular individuals of the organization. One thing I noticed is that the new members are treated highly in some regard to encourage them to keep coming. However, depending on the role such as ritual compared to finances the status of the member is affected.

The meeting has officially started, the VP of Finance stands up in a slow manner holding his computer and says "PAY YOUR DUES"(Money Guy).

The VP of ritual stays seated and disgruntled. He takes off his glasses and twirls it around his fingers then puts it back on. He then says "If you skip initiation you guys suck. Come support the new guys" (Ritual Tom).

President stands up alright new guys you can all go home now. Membership Director will escort you boys out of here. Have a good night" (president). As they walk out the entire room fills with laughter and cheers for excitement. A complete change in vibe in the room some yell for the new members by saying "YEAH GET OUT OF HERE BIG GUY." Others begin to whistle at the new members. The new members walk out some with a bit of swagger in their step trying to attract more attention.

For my first node, I focused on the Self where the participants had the opportunity to talk about how they came to this organization and its impact on themselves. When I asked Billy who has made an impact on him from Alpha Alpha Beta this was his response,

"Two guys actually made the biggest impact. I, I'd hang out with them a lot and uh, they, I talked to them about school but alive and they'd opened up my eyes to, to more stuff out there. They're actually graduating this semester. So it's sad to see them go, but you know, they, they're two of the coolest dudes I've met. They're all about the schoolwork, but also they, they also, they like to have fun too. So like they showed me like, you know, you can do, you can be great at school and also have a good time. So with the fraternity made it like the best college experience possible because, um, these two guys are actually going to be doctors. So I was like, wait, you know these guys and they can do it. I can do it too. And they, I look up to him actually are like as mentors. So you ran where I have a question, I go to them, ask them, you know, a, how would you go about this? How, or have you done this? You don't, have you been in the situation and, and more likely or not they have, cause you know, they, they've been in school longer than I have, so they'll live more life. And so that, you know, they, I see them more as mentors, mentors to me then more than anything.

In this part of the interview, I have Billy talk about the impact this group has had on him focusing on ME and I phrases. Even though he is talking about someone else he is focusing on what changes that have made on his life. Specifically showcasing the balance between fun and school and the inspiration he gained to pursue career goals. One thing that is also in the phrases he used within the interview such as live more life showcasing the importance of experience. It is also key that it is important for Billy to have motivation which shows us what kind of person he is.

This next transcript shows the information taken from the Recruitment director:

Uh, like just in general or on me? On you. Uh, there's been a couple of people, um, in general, I think everyone has for a very specific reason. My father passed away when I was in the fraternity, uh, very recently. And when he did a, it was a really tough time and I don't have a lot of family, a lot of my family's from New York and Florida a and so they're all across the nation. Uh, and so when it happened, I relied heavily on friends for like emotional support. Uh, you know, I had a, I don't sort of like a mini wake I guess, or like a something like that. I at my house, which is in Visalia, which is like an hour away from Fresno. And I invited everyone in the fraternity over and like, I just find a lot of friends, people like real close ones. Cause I thought, you know, I, one of my friend's dads actually passed away was the very same age, like a terrible situation. Uh, and he had all his family over the whole time. And I was thinking like, wow, I don't have any family to invite over. So I thought, well, my friends are my family. So I invited all my friends and I think we had like 45 active brothers and I 42 showed up at my house. And it was, it was incredible. I mean, it was a day that was supposed to have like, um, it was supposed to be a party. There were supposed to other things happening, but instead, it showed up and all these people showed up to me, even guys that I didn't even know as well, but older guys and they showed up and they'd be like, showed support, they brought food, they brought like anything. They brought so much to help me out. And that was probably the biggest impact that happened to me, the whole experience.

I found this interview incredibly insightful, I was worried that this topic might make the interviewee uncomfortable which is why I tried asking questions that would avoid any negative emotions. However, the way the Recruitment director discusses this which such strength and elegance I was incredibly impressed. This showcased how this group had a direct impact on him during a difficult time and showcases what his values are as a person. Recruitment also talks about how his family is not really around so he then trusts these important roles to his "brothers" who have known him for a short period of time.

This last node on self is from the Interviewee Cozy who is been in the fraternity for a long time.

Well, um, I see pretty much everybody that I've been able to meet. I mean, I think one of the best things about joining has been just getting able to, being able to interact with different walks of life. Um, we're a very diverse group, I feel, and I think that I have like, you know, bumped hands with like people that are maybe wouldn't have interacted with before and certainly with other like, um, other social houses and stuff like that. Um, it's hard to name a particular person because it's just so, I've gained so much from everyone in our organization and I think that like, although we are very different, there's a lot of diversity among us. We have generally the same moral principles. Like we, we get along in that respect.

I think what is clear about the Self in this section is that this person is very social and focuses on the group entirely. He doesn't specify one specific quality, but what he does do is give us a perspective on the group thinking that he embodies in himself when speaking about having the same moral principles. This is a common trait in Fraternities as they typically like to bring people either with the same mentality or morals. Cozy also takes the time to focus on the diversity of the group and including himself in this.

        I believe that the Looking Glass self is where we really start diving into the interview as I ask the interviewees what they think the Fraternity thinks of them. I used this in my second node through NVIVO. This was an opportunity in the interview for the person to really think of themselves and where they think they stand. In this part of the interview, I saw members of the group focus in for a minute sometimes begin to start to talk but then pause for one more moment before answering.

        The first node I use here is from Billy where I ask him how would someone in the Fraternity describe him?

        They, I'm pretty sure they'd describe me as a, as a fun, always been the guy having something funny to say, but at the same time, uh, carry a reliable, um, somebody that you'd want to have on your team. Somebody who is that guy that you know, you whenever you see that guy, you know, a, he's, he has some good news or, or he's going to make me laugh today, but at the same time he's, he's about as work as well. So He's, uh, when it comes down to businesses, he's all ears. You know, oak comes with an open mind, outgoing, I'd say. And I said that's all I think.

        This is where Billy really gets to showcase how he really thinks about himself and what he is trying to portray to the Fraternity. The Looking Glass self allows the individual self to reflect on what they believe and Billy really focuses on reliability here and wanting to be an important member of the group.

The next node focuses on what I asked Cozy on how he reacts when he sees a member of the fraternity.

I feel hype, man. I always show love. Like, it's cool to see a total like running up to people on campus and like, you know, I feel like it happens a lot. Like there's so many of us that were just kind of everywhere and like it definitely boosts my day when I run into people like running into you today. No one right now. Like that's hype. Like I get hyped to see everybody. Right. It kind of boosts my day, lose my mood.

This showcases how Cozy really feels about his brothers and seeing those with a like-minded mentality shows the positive vibes a group can have on a person. The Looking glass self allows the individual to interpret also what should be projected back to the group so it is natural for a person to see someone from their group and be happy. It would actually be very out of the ordinary for a member of this group not to show excitement to one another from this group.

This last section of Looking Glass Self I asked the New Member Ed on how he believes the Fraternity views him and this response was very honest which is why I decided to put it in my report.

Uh, I would honestly think they see me as lazy more than anything that I don't really care about what I do and it, but that's not, it's not exactly how I would describe myself, but I think that's the image of the others perceive of me and that must be pretty difficult to kind of like dealing with sometimes. Uh, I don't really care about that necessarily more than anything. At the end of the day, I care about how I perceive myself and what I know that I'm doing to be right. That's how I care and that's how I get through. But I try not to focus on any kind of negative light that people might try and shed on me. Right.

This response allowed this Member to give his perspective on where he stands with the chapter given previous meetings where there were disagreements. This then showcases that New Member then shows that he does think about what others think about him, but unlike others that use the Looking Glass Self to showcase what the group wants from them; This member focuses on what the thinks of himself.

In every organization, there are roles and statuses that showcase one's power and ones requirement to be apart of a group. In this next Section, I ask what their roles whereas a new member, as a normal brother, and when deemed necessary if a brother had a position I asked him his roles as a board member.  In this first node, I ask Recruitment on what his roles as a pledge this was his response

As a pledge member. I, my role was to go out and be stupid. I, uh, as the pledge over, I tried to get our pledge class, how to everything, but I, we there's like a pledge class president and uh, the pledge class president, uh, they, they're kind of like the leader of it. And I was not the hash president. It was my friend. Uh, and he did a great job. But I also, I was probably the most active pledge. I went out every single party, every single event I was out every single, even when there was almost no brothers, I just show up to everything cause I thought it was cool. Uh, and so at that time, I think everyone just saw me as the, you know, the one, the, my pledge class. So there was like two or three guys who really like made an effort to go to everything. So, and out of those two, three guy that was probably the loudest, so I was probably the most well-known pledge and I think people just expected me to be everywhere at the thing. People expected me to just show up and try their best. And just to be kind of annoying.

It is clear by this time of the interview Recruitment was extremely comfortable of what actually he believes is important to be a pledge member of this organization. That would be to enjoy yourself and show interest in the group. Recruitment clearly shows dedication as well as confidence in himself by being the most "active" pledge. He also clearly excited to be a part of this group. There are certain roles that are expected of pledges and what he focuses on is not necessarily the actual responsibilities but the energy that is required.

The next node is where Cozy talks about the roles of a brother and the changes that occur.

Well, you definitely like once you cross over to becoming a full Pledge brother, you're entitled to more rights. Um, not that you didn't have rice before, but um, you've kind of proven at least to the other members that you know, you're at least capable of passing through the pledge process. That is an important step. Um, so you've kind of gone over to the other side. You're, you know, you're a brother. You are welcome at certain events where the pledges aren't necessarily invited. Um, and the camaraderie, the camaraderie is increased, I feel because you've proven yourself and you still have proving to do, but you've at least past a huge step.

In this node Cozy showcases the benefits of crossing over to become a full-fledged brother and focusing on the benefits of becoming one. Focusing that one's role increases but also how the benefits also increase.

        This last section I use for a node is the New Member Education where he talks about his role as a board member.

So I am the new member educators. It used to be called now it's the vice president of new member Enrichment, I believe. And my role is to educate the people who are pledging a, the new members essentially that, uh, all the values of the fraternity, the history of the fraternity, our code of conduct. And more than anything, how to be an Alpha Alpha Beta as I would say. Um, I want them to come into this experience knowing full well that we would do anything for them as we would hope that they would for us. Cause they are brothers at the end of the day, you know, we want them to have the same kind of commitments that we all have towards this fraternity. That's what I really want to teach them.

New member educator here talks about how his role has changed from a national perspective as well as what his actual role is in guiding new members. He also talks about his goals for his position as well. He also talks about the roles of a brother and the importance of commitment.

        Frontstage is the theory that we are all trying to perform on a stage of life. This concept allowed all the interviewees to portray to me what information they would like me to perceive and understand. For this to happen I asked basic questions like what are the goals for this group and what are you looking for in a new member? Billy showcases what the goals of the group is.

 The goal of the group is to, to make better men and make the world a better place through better men actually. So we want people who are professionals, who are, who strive to be professional professionals, people who want to be leaders in their and their major and their line of work they want. We want people just all raw all around great guys. And if they lack some sort of, um, uh, area, some, some, some field in our area, uh, we can actually, you know, help them build them up to be great guys. Because if it's already great guys and stuff, then, then there's like no room for work per say .Like, you know, like nothing to work on, then it would be great to have them on our side too. But also we want to make, like, we want guys that like need like something to work on, you know, something to work on. So that's like perfect for us because, um, we can help them with that, you know? And then, and that way we'd be a molding, great guys and like help them in their line if whatever they need work on the, you know, later on in life they could look back and say, Hey, I, I was with them and they helped me change and they helped me be a better guy. And, and so, and so, and, um, we have, we want to make like a great impact. We want people to say, oh, when they see us, like all those guys are great. They're always like, um, studious or like getting A's in their classes. You know, they're always in the library studying somewhere. Someone like trustworthy. So I'm like, oh, I can go to them. If I see them, I can go to them for help for anything, anything like homework. Uh, life, you know, just any situation. Just know I have a friend wherever they go if they see a guy like that. And for what was the other question?

In this section, Billy focuses in this first statement the line that is recited from all members of this group which is to "make better men". This showcases the idea that all members of this organization should try to do. He wants to embody this slogan for himself as well.  He then goes into detail about what he seeks in other people that he is okay with someone that is not fully developed. This shows his openness, but also shows that this group is inclusive.

In this next section, I ask Cozy what he looks for in a new member.

Um, um, I looked for someone who's just like, I have a good feeling about good gut instinct. Like they seem generally like a good person. Um, no, our values or silence, charity, purity, honor, and patriotism. And I look for those and a new guy, uh, you know, I kind of feel them out, see, um, you know, what their passions are, what they care about. Um, and, uh, if they're not someone that I feel like, uh, clicks with our intentions as a group, um, I challenged them. That doesn't necessarily mean they're not a fit for us, but, um, that's kind of what the pledge process is for it to kind of weed out who has a hood isn't a good fit. And also people who maybe aren't a good fit, you can sort of make them change in a way to where, you know, better themselves. So I just look for people that have overall good character traits, I would say.

This is where Cozy talks in detail that its all about instinct when deciding who should enter this sacred group. He also talks about the logistics of letting members go if needed and that he is okay with that. This shows how exclusive this group can be when necessary, but also giving a good reason behind it.

This last part I take half of the node I used from Recruitment to talk about the environment he wants to create at Alpha Alpha Beta.

I want to create an environment where no one feels threatened and people like partying there and they feel safe. And it's a, it's a constant thing of trying to make it aware. No matter who you are, you come in, you walk in the gate so you feel like this place is cool. And I like being here and every time you leave with like this sense of like, wow, that was like a fun time. No matter what you like, if you're someone's, a huge party or someone has a party before in their entire life, that's sort of line columns. Awesome

Recruitment here talks about that he wants someone who embodies the same energy that he has. We as performers and in groups prefer to be with those that think like us. He wants to create an environment that facilitates a place that can create that energy. He says this when he wants people to be partying at the house even if you are not a huge party person Recruitment wants to give you that option.

        The last node is where we dive into what the person really thinks of the group. These actors in this group are now expressing what they really feel about the organization. In this first node, I originally was going to use a section from roles for Recruitment, however, he went into explicit detail of what occurs when you become a full-fledged brother.

Well, it's a full fledge, Roger. Uh, I guess the best way I describe it is, uh, the magic wears off a little bit. You know, you, you go in there and the first couple of times you go to a sorority's philanthropy, the first couple of times you go to a party, your own, like the first couple of times you have like rituals and stuff. It's like, oh my God, like this is so cool. And then the next time, like the first time you're doing it as a real brother, that's a whole different experience. Just really cool. And you feel like you're more part of it for when do you feel like you're enough of a part of it? It stops becoming so special and it starts feeling a little bit more routine and you put it on, she sort of get the gist of it, you know? And some of them are still really fun. There are certain sororities at other thing is that are still odd low. I go out, I'll try and go to, I still try and go out to as much as I can, but there's somewhere it's like, I'm like, I know what I'm going to get from this. And I know that I'm not really into that. And another big thing, this is completely candid. Um, I have a girlfriend now and having a girlfriend changes the fraternity life scape in a very big deal. It's, it's not the main reason people join, but it's definitely a contributing factor. And there are certain things like going out to a party, it's still fun, but you know, there's a, it's a different idea in mind, I guess. You know, you're not going, maybe you, maybe you've been talking to a girl and you're going to maybe see her there. It's like, I, you know, I know what I'm doing. You know, I'd Kinda rather stay in or flag or watch Netflix, you know, bake some brownies or something. I'm a, I'm a home ag guy now, but I mean, it's still fun. But I think his brother there, the magic wears off a little bit and it's not as like, whoa my God. But it's a, it becomes a little bit more of um, trying to find some, making your own fun out of it. And that's another thing's cool is when you're like a pledge and you're doing it, it's a little bit more, um, you're scared, you're more rigid. But why don't you come brother things, you know, I'm super last lacks of days, about, everything. I go into it like free-flowing. I don't, I don't care what people think about me. I don't care how they, you know, how they perceive it. I'm not as like trying to show off like all the kind of look cool for Alpha Beta. It's like I show up and I'm just trying to have fun and be with my friends and more authentic, a little bit more authentic. For sure

Recruitment breaks down the reality of the situation when someone brings a full-fledged brother. That it gets old and the magic does were off in the solution. He also talks about how in the beginning most members party in hopes to get a girlfriend in the process, however, once they obtain this there is not the same energy available. Backstage focuses on reality and not necessarily on what we try to project to others, but more so on what we actually think.

This next section is where Cozy talks about the state of the Fraternity. I asked him how has this Fraternity changed over the years.

Yeah. Um, I think it boils down to, and this is with any organization, is just integrity and I'm holding people accountable. I would say to say we struggle with, we struggle with that is a bit of an understatement. Um, you know, uh, by, by deciding to join your, you're taking it all obligation and take an oath. And, um, there's a couple of guys, a few guys right now that are not necessarily meeting that and they have their own personal reasons and, you know, not all of them, some of them are in a position where they can't and I respect that, but, um, I think, I think the larger conversation just needs to, to happen about, you know, those who are still around and aren't meeting obligations. Like they either need to get it together or they need to, you know, not be involved because there are allegations that are in place that we could function. Yeah. You know, if you're not being a part of the solution, like just don't be a part of the problem. That's kind of my take on it. And, um, I want to see that change. And, you know, it's, I think we're starting to kind of get the ball moving on that. And a lot of it isn't even, a lot of our problems have been inherited. You know this has been an issue since our inception and, and a lot of the guys who aren't, aren't here, um, have caused some of these problems that we're now dealing with. Um, but I hope we can come out on the positive side and learn from those mistakes. I think we can, I know we can. Um, I just, I'm just anxious to see it happen.

This is where Cozy take the opportunity to talk about hte lack of accountability that can occur in a fraternity. I understand that we were not supposed to ask questions that arise conflict however it seemed that this was something Cozy wanted to vent and talk about. So given that knowledge and as a researcher, I allowed him to do so. He discusses how he wants to see a change to get this fraternity to move in a positive direction.

In this last node, I ask Billy how has the Fraternity changed good or bad.

They've already graduating. So like they, they've lived through it and so, and so they've sort of stepped back to let route the new guys have their fun and be more active. So when I was there, there was a lot more older guys and so they weren't really as active, so they didn't really participate as much as in activities or philanthropies because they were getting ready to graduate. But now as, um, time goes by, I see like a lot of fresh, fresh guys, fresh meat. So they, they're more active obviously because they're new to the scene and they get more excited and they're more pumped. So they say like, oh, can we have an event tomorrow? Like, so we have a lot more guys going out there, a lot more guys active. And so now, now, like this semester, it was a lot more guys going to graduate too. So like they're, they're getting ready to graduate. So like they, they've had their fill of the fraternity that, you know, they got what they wanted out of it and they put in what they want to, into the fraternity as well. So I feel like it's like a cycle. You get new guys, you lose some good guys as well.

In this section, Billy talks about losing some members that he's gotten very close to and the reality of when older members stop caring about the organization. He also talks about the positives of gaining new members and the part of the cycle. Backstage focuses on what the person actually does and thinks. Part of that, in my opinion, comes with an understanding of what the situation is. When a member becomes a full-fledged member they understand what it takes to create and facilitate a fun time for new members and with that comes a lot of work. In all three of these nodes, the interviewees have dropped their guard and explained that process.

       

For my first node, I created agency as the primary node with NVIVO, which allowed me to review the documents and try to find sections that matched this topic. Agency sections tend to have empowerment stories to explain to the world how the group thinks or acts. The agency shows the prominent behaviors and power within an organization.

The Fraternity's present plan to 2020 has focused on growth, alumni engagement and housing. To date Alpha Sigma Phi has a presence on more than 174 campuses in the U.S. and Canada. We have almost 7,600 undergraduate members and more than 56,000 living alumni. And best yet, we can boast more than 80 recognized alumni associations and more than 1,100 alumni volunteering at the chapter level. Predictions are that our 2020 goals of 200 chapters, 10,000 undergraduates and adding hundreds of more volunteers will be met

By focusing on the growth of the Fraternity, one can see the progression and success of the National chapter while still giving credit to younger branches. Also, discussing the numbers of Alumni showcase the lifetime commitment to the fraternity, which is noteworthy. With the last section focusing on the projections, it also maintains a stride for greatness in terms of the organization. This Agency is showcased in a way to point at the success of the chapter.

After attending Elevate - National Leadership Conference in 2011, and Academy of Leadership, Ralph F. Burns Leadership Institute and Grand Chapter in 2012, the colony had a strong recruitment in the fall of 2012 and welcomed 17 new members. Under the leadership of Chapter President Daniel Ward, Fresno State '11, the colony recruited an additional 10 men the following spring and were approved to a charter by the Grand Council in February of 2013. The men of Zeta Mu had become much more involved in campus life and the community, which was evident as their chartering banquet drew nearly 150 guests.

This section focuses on recruitment and creation of the chapter at Fresno State. It focuses explicitly on the foundation of the men who stepped up to create this chapter on campus. The nature of the section is one that is reminded to new members as they enter to gain a better understanding of where the group comes from. This creates a foundation and goals for the new generation to aspire to be like.

Alpha Sigma Phi continues to initiate more new members than ever before year-in and year out, and the 2016-17 academic year was no different. Alpha Sigma Phi welcomed over 2,700 new members this school year, the most in Fraternity history. To see our Top 5 new member classes of the spring, navigate to Page 2.

This last quote focuses on recruitment, which is a big topic in all the content provided below. This is because the organization mains focus is to continue to recruit the next generation and outlast other fraternities. Also, it should be known there are a lot of thrown around different areas of the article to hype the organization but fail to showcase how this fair with other organizations.

Diagnosis

The second node I coded with NVIVO was Diagnosis or in other words, an Injustice. This is defined as the issues the group tends to face while being apart of the organization. Nodes in this section typically come from the agenda or meeting minutes because it was where the group typically addresses any logistical issues going on with the Fraternity.

Delta Sigma Phi's organization headquarters said in a statement that although Nemeth was not a member of the fraternity, "we join with the entire Fresno State community to mourn the loss of this young man and send our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time".

Whereas this organization is not Alpha Alpha Beta's, it should be known that it affected all greek life at Fresno State. Therefore, Alpha Alpha Beta members deemed it necessary to speak on this issue. It shows the concern of the family members affected but focuses that the student was not a member of any Greek organization. This is a huge public relations issue for any parents thinking that joining Fraternities is dangerous and reckless.

Information item: Brother Kraft informed the chapter that he planned to propose two new action items next week regarding constitutional amendments. The two amendments are as follows:

Amend the GPA requirement for admittance from the current 2.75 to the National requirement of 2.5.

Amend the process in which directors are removed by removing the president's power to ask for their resignation.

In regard to letting members into the orginization one local member took it upon themselves to attempt to allow more recruits. Also wanted to change the power of the president so that they could not simply ask a member to resign from power. This tackles two major issues from the local chapter. One being on whether Alpha Alpha Beta focuses on quantity versus quality of candidates. Also, on how much power is too much power for the president. Both issues set the tone and change within the organization for the years to come.

Greatly appreciate the idea, the problem is that he feels nobody deserves a refund, we already paid for, everyone went that wanted to go, we were provided food and transportation, when you left doesn't really matter, it isn't fair to take from the budget, sometimes formals are good, sometimes they are bad, don't charge the chapter for a reimbursement for something that you willing paid for, it isn't fair to charge the chapter

This is an issue brought up to the chapter in the minutes on the topic of formals. There were clear issues with the event which is why the chapter discussed whether it was worth the price. This lead to turmoil at the time as brothers either felt cheated during this time. Others also beleive that the responsibility did not rely on the chapter but rather on the individual when it comes to this issue.

Prognosis

The third node I used for NVIVO was Prognosis which focuses on solutions for issues within the group. Prognosis shows the actions and planning the group takes to solve internal and external issues. My group mainly works with male college students from lower economic backgrounds, so finances are a big issue. Also, with impacted schedules attendance is also a major issue within the Fraternity. In the nodes below I show action plans to either main issues or logistics needed on how to execute on how to run Alpha Alpha Beta.

Action Item: Brother Kyle McIntosh motioned to make 60 Days of Sigs mandatory. This is meant to promote brotherhood, bonding, and connections with brothers you may not know that well. Each brother will be assigned a brother and make a one-minute video describing who that brother is, what they mean to them, etc. Feel free to say what ever you want in these videos, but keep in mind that this is a serious activity. A video will then be posted each day. If you have questions regarding this feel free to contact Brother Kyle McIntosh. Twenty approved, nine opposed, one abstained. The motion passed

At the time brother retention rates were low so this was a policy implemented to help other brothers' bond with each other. This was a way to solve that issue as well as learn more about brothers that typically would not associate with. As brotherhood is what this organization is at its core it important that the group focuses on maintaining that. In the video, it is important that the brothers focus on getting to know the other person. This displays a feature that is expected of qualitative researchers to probe and learn more from the client.

It is a good point, but there is some liability concerns, it is against our national insurance policy to have brothers drive to an Alpha Sigma Phi event, that would be an instance where risk is increased, so that's why we make sure to provide transportation

In regard to events, it is important to address insurance policies, and follow protocol when doing so which is what these brothers displayed in this content. Brothers in the minutes displayed the necessary procedures to provide transportation to ensure that the group is safe and enjoying themselves.

I have come to the conclusion that he doesn't want a refund, believes it is unfair, we can get over it as a brotherhood, would like to apologize formally for the mass text comment, thinks we can do better, last semester we had no issues, shoot this down, we can move forward, and we don't have to worry about this, personally texted the President, called the meeting to get our emotions out, let's end this in a hug

Now, this displays a section where the brothers solved a problem from the nodes before. What ended the event was simply displaying their frustration with the event but focus on moving forward as a brotherhood. By doing this they show accountability and acceptance of the situation.

For my Fourth node, I focused on motivation which explains the why a group does what it does. Nodes on this typically reflect the core values of the organization and explain the pillars of the Fraternity. This can also explain why to join Alpha Alpha Beta.

ACTIVE: An initiated member who is a current college student. ALUMNUS: A fraternity member who has graduated or left college (plural: Alumni). ASSOCIATE/NEW MEMBER: A non-initiated member of a fraternity. BADGE: The pin of an initiated member. BID: A formal invitation to join an organization. CANDIDATE: A person who will potentially be inducted into an organization. CHAPTER: The local group of an international organization. COLONY: A newly organized group working to become a chartered chapter. DRY RUSH/RECRUITMENT: The practice of not serving alcoholic beverages at any rush/recruitment function. INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC): The representative body of all men's fraternities. FORMAL RECRUITMENT: The period of time set aside for structured recruitment. FRATERNITY: The name that applies to male chapters and is characterized by a ritual, a pin, and a strong bond of friendship. INITIATION: A formal ceremony during which a man begins full membership in an organization. LEGACY: A Potential New Member whose grandparents, parents, or sibling is a member of a particular organization. NEW MEMBER PERIOD: The time during which new members learn about their organization, its members, and their activities. PHILANTHROPY: Endeavors raising money for charitable organizations. POTENTIAL NEW MEMBER: A man who is going through the recruitment process. RITUAL: A value-based ceremony that is traditional of a chapter. Rituals are kept secret.

Now with these terms provided to all Fresno State students looking into joining Alpha Alpha Beta, it should be known that the clear motivation to educate the students on the basic terms that are used frequently in all groups. Alpha Alpha beta wants the public to be aware of these terms prior to joining so that they are aware of what they are joining.

Hey AlphaSig. I work as a recruiter for Vivint Solar, the second largest provider of residential solar power in the nation, and we're looking for people interested in selling solar power in your area, so we've set up a life-size Jenga® tower and and we're giving out thousands of dollars in prizes this coming Thursday (Nov. 16) for you if you're interested! If you want to come along, please feel free to bring a friend and register for free at NCA.VivintSolar.com so we know you're coming! Please see the flyer for additional info and message me/send me a friend request if you have any questions and would like to connect.

Alpha Alpha Beta's are constantly trying to give more opportunities for other members. The motivation is to have members that the group trusts. This is an example on a lower level but is displayed on all kinds of careers. As a member of Alpha Alpha Beta may have an edge of other that are not part of the organization. That is also motivation for the is the group to continue to recruit ambitious members or to help others within the organization.

hope that my commitment and contributions provide future Alpha Sigs with the same, if not better, resources I was privileged enough to have in the early days of my Chapter's history. This was anything from physical resources of ritual equipment to easy-to-reach staff members who were always ready to answer a question. These are the kind of things that draw men to this brotherhood, knowing that whatever you need, there is someone there to help

This last node takes a section from Alumni that wanted to help other members and pay it forward. The motivation of this section is to inspire and showcase similar actions to younger members reading this. To showcase the day in day out mentality that is displayed during one's tenure of the organization. While showcasing the lasting impact these moments have on an individual from the group.

For my last node, I used the term Identity to code into NVIVO. Identity explains the organization at the core who they are what they represent, and what it means to be apart of the organization. It allows us to look at the collective identity of the group. In my last paper, I was able to showcase how some members choose to be a more authentic version of themselves rather than try to please the group. In the nodes below I focus on the collective mentality that is typically displayed by the group.

Planning, networking and brotherhood. I served as Brotherhood Development Director and being a part of the planning process for collective events has translated into doing similar activities in my professional life. Also, it helped me be confident enough and able to interact and build rapport with people I've just met. Interpersonal relationship building skills learned on campus and within the walls of the Old Gal have certainly spilled over into all aspects of life and are invaluable.

This showcases the identity of an individual that has devloped from the group. Focusing on how the fraternity has developed the individual shapin his identity embedded with the groups as well. Bringing up terms like "Old Gal" showcase an important factor for them and the meaning behind it that understand what it means. It shows us how the growth of an individual because of the Fraternity also representing the identity of the fraterntity "To better the man".

Our next member of prudential is our VP of Standards and Risk Manager "White Chocolate" is a Fall 18' and is majoring in Civil Engineering. He wants everybody to know that he's gonna keep all the boys in line, except Stefan of course. Also if you're wondering why his picture is different than the other members of Prudential, its because his picture looked gross and he didn't want to hurt his brand. Alright, everybody, we're kicking off our prudential run down on the strongest note the new VP of member education. is a Spring 17' pursuing a degree in business entrepreneurship. would like everyone to know he is great with kids and single mothers. He is also going to do his best fathering all the new members of Alpha Sig, metaphorically of course.

This focuses on Prudential members where this part of the document uses to advertise essential members of the group and the focus of what they are doing on campus regardless of the organization. Conversley, it also showcases the organizations also can have fun which is also embodied in the culture of the organization and its identity.

The Fresno State fraternity and sorority community fosters leadership development, promotes academic achievement, and encourages community involvement to cultivate the lifelong bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood.

This focuses on the culture given at Fresno State and what the identities of Greek culture represent here on campus. Focusing on academics and bonds created here for students interested to understand what to expect prior to joining the group. This showcases the identity of Alpha Alpha Beta and greek culture in general.  

Conclusion

These observations showcase a variety of sociological theories in each setting. They also showcase the diversity of interactions that take place. I believe my observations show the struggles, frustrations, frontstage, backstage, and the roles of the members of Alpha Alpha Beta Fraternity. Overall conducting these interviews for this Fraternity was easy to obtain, but difficult to process and analyze the data. Also finding unique members is something I also wanted to showcase in my research. Many of these members have jobs on campus, full-time students, and are involved in other activities. There are five sociological theories that I showcased which are Roles, Frontstage, Backstage, Self, and Looking Glass self. All of these theories help showcase how this organization runs, and the interactions with each other. I have enjoyed my time conducting these interviews and I hope those that read it gain better insight on what it means to be apart of Alpha Alpha Beta. . Overall this analysis was the most difficult research I have dealt with yet. The reason for this was not lacking content, but more so on finding material that best embodies the nodes above. Most materials produced by this organization is provided on flyers or videos to promote themselves, what they represent, and why others should join. Most of the research focuses on not reading the material, but interactions with other members. Which is why most of the research conducted by the interviews have such valuable information. However, I believe that the materials above showcase agency, diagnosis, prognosis, motivation, and identity fairly well. The issues brought up were all ones that affected the local chapter. The solutions varied from section depending on the issue and how professional the group displayed themselves. The motivation and Identity typically remained the same through all data. The agency showcases the worldviews of this Fraternity in a way that allows the reader to understand what the goals are. This group's main goal was to create a structure to facilitate brotherhood.

Works Cited

"Definition of the Situation." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Dec. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition_of_the_situation.

Dillon, Michele. Introduction to Sociological Theory: Theorists, Concepts, and Their Applicability to the Twenty-First Century, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2013. ProQuest Ebook Central

"Eliciting Frontstage and Backstage Talk with the Iterated Questioning Approach." Sociological Methodology, journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0081175016632804.

"Looking-Glass Self." SAGE Knowledge, sk.sagepub.com/reference/processes/n165.xml.

"Role Taking, Role Making, and Coordinated Action" chapter 5 in Symbols Selves and Social Reality,  2nd.ed. by Kent Sandstrom, Daniel Martin and Gary Alan Fine. 2006.

"Symbolic Interactionism ." Dominant Social Paradigm - Oxford Reference, Oxford University Press, 5 Nov. 2018,

"The Nature and Significance of the Self" chapter 4 in Symbols Selves and Social Reality,  

2nd.ed. by Kent Sandstrom, Daniel Martin and Gary Alan Fine.  2006.