I observed a nondenominational religious organization has services, events and programs for different age groups where they provide a time for worship, bible lessons, and time to socialize and connect with others. I focused on the interactions before and after the gatherings among the members. Each observation period was around an hour. In the interactions I found different statuses that were linked to role taking. I observed rituals being practiced by members that helped the church function properly. In addition I was able to identify interactions that fit into the backstage and frontstage theory and definition of the situation theory. This data is intriguing as it shows that the different actions taken by people of this group were centered around greeting people and welcoming them into the group. I interviewed a total of three people that attend the nondenominational religious organization I observed. I asked all three people if I could interview them after a Sunday gathering. I then gave them each the consent forms to fill out and met up with each person on three different days. I interviewed two females and a male. With the interview guide I developed I was able to collect plenty of interesting data. All of my interviewees were perfect candidates for the interviews because they all are people that regularly attend church gatherings and events. One of them was involved in the young adults group at the church and the other was involved in the women's ministry. The third person I interviewed was part of the helpers that welcome people at the door. Because of their familiarity and experience with their church group, they were able to give in detail information about their group. When analyzing the data collected the theories I found to be heavily present in my data were: definition of the situation, frontstage and backstage, looking glass self, presentation of self, role taking. The data I collected about this group revealed a lot about their beliefs and their strong desire to promote these beliefs. With the software Nvivo, I carefully analyzed the data I collected through the internet and a pamphlet handed out each service. I found that the data fit into the following themes: diagnosis, motivation, prognosis, identity frame, agency frame. Within these themes, my group discussed their beliefs about the bible, why everyone needs to know about these teachings, and told inspiring stories about members experiencing memorable moments when coming to believe or embrace the groups values. This information is significant to analyze and take into account because it shows the reason why they gather.
Literature Review
People are always altering the way they interact with each other to convey a positive self and achieve a specific goal. The symbolic interaction theory consists of several terms which break down the ways humans interact with each other. People put up a front to portray a desired character and prepare to do so in the backstage. By defining a situation they decide what roles they will take to have a smooth interaction. People alter they way they act through they way they believe others perceive. This is analyzed through the looking-glass theory. The term stigma makes it challenging for certain people to be perceived as likable because of they way they look.
Symbolic Interaction Theory
The symbolic interaction theory was developed by Herbert Bloomer in 1937. This theory states that definitions are formed from our daily interactions with others. These definitions are created through the observations of human interaction where what they do during the interaction provides a way to analyze and comprehend the meaning of the interaction. Human interaction consists of symbols where we communicate our culture. The way we interact is constantly changing and it never remains the same because of the fact that society and those around us continue to change. How we interact is relies on where we are, who we are talking to, what role we take, how we interpret the way others feel about us, and what is the impression we want to give off to others.
Front Stage and Back Stage
The terms front stage and back stage were formulated by Erving Goffman. He argues that we humans are continuously looking to impress who we interact with to reveal an acceptable self. In the front stage we put up an act that is expected and that creates a positive image of us. The back stage is where a person prepares for their performance in the front stage. In the back stage we are not being watched, however in the front stage we perform to an audience. When performing, people use props and cues which can vary depending on the location and situation. In the article Eliciting Frontstage and Backstage Talk with the IteratedQuestioning Approach, a student named Hunter is interviewed and is asked questions that expose frontstage and backstage talk. First, they ask him to answer as if he were talking to a teacher. They ask Hunter why we he is going to attend Jefferson. His response is based on financial reasons. He states that college is expensive and that attending Jefferson is cheaper compared to other colleges. Yet, when they ask him what he would tell a close friend why he wants to go to Jefferson, he responded differently by stating that he wanted to attend Jefferson because he wants to stay with his friends and relax. Hunter did not really express his full reasoning behind why he chose to go to Jefferson to a teacher because he wanted to say what would be most acceptable to say. When answering what he would say to a close friend, he did not have to prepare an answer, instead he said what he felt. A question one might ask a person during an interview to receive frontstage and backstage feedback would be: Do you find yourself often saying things or acting in a way you would not if you were not at work? A question I would ask myself during an observation would be: What fronstage actions and words do I observe?
Definition of The Situation
The term definition of a situation is best understood when one asks "what is going on" (Sandstrom et al., p.127). When it is determined and agreed upon what is occurring in a certain situation, then the definition of the situation has been decided. Definitions of situations serve a purpose of finding the same meaning of a situation to be able to act in complimentary behaviors with other people and complete the task at hand. The way we act in a task relies on what we suppose will happen. A customer at a store knows the employee assist when buying goods, so they will take on the role of the customer and treat the employee as he should (Sandstrom et al., p.127). Definitions of situations are not always agreed upon. This confuses people because they are not sure what roles they should take or other will take in a situation. When the definition of a situation cannot be agreed-upon and there is more than one definition that can be applied to the situation, the people involved have to compromise what will they are going to do. Sandstrom et al. give the example of going to a party. They write that there are several definitions of a party some of which include drinking and drugs while others do not. When a person is not enjoying the environment of a party they must decide whether they want to leave the party or compromise and observe the role taken at the party and adopt it. A question to ask that would give a response about the definition of a situation would be: What are some of the tasks you do at work that coordinate with other coworkers or people you provide service to? A question I would ask my self while observing this is: What is the roles taken after defining a situation? How to these roles compliment each other?
Role Taking
Role taking is when we act in a way that compliments the way those around us act. Role taking is an "imaginative process" where from the point of view of others we examine the way we act (Sandstrom et al., p.130). We decide whether or not the action we have in mind of pursuing will be appropriately received or not and we alter our actions depending on how we believe others will perceive us. The roles we take are not set we alter them as we define a situation. We examine the roles others take and we take roles that complement others while being aware of the way they react to us. It is a process that is continually being altered to fit our interpretation of the way others view us and what we think is the best way to act. There are three key elements in which our abilities in role taking are molded by: our social experiences, conforming identities and performance in an interaction, how well we know the person (Sandstrom et al., p.131). Through our experiences and observations of the roles others take, we become better at role taking. We are able to assign a role to a person by what we externally see, such as a teacher. When we know a person it is much easier to take their roles, but when this is not the case, it is difficult to take their role. A question I would ask to hear about what role taking would be: How do you interact with others on a daily basis? A question I would ask while observing role taking would be: Does he/she alter the way they act depending on the route of the interaction?
Looking Glass Self
The looking-glass self was developed by Charles Horton Cooley. To explain his theory, Cooley used a mirror to represent that people see themselves and envision how they are perceived by others and combine these ideas to how they think of themselves. The looking-glass self states that the way we think of ourselves is shaped by our surroundings and the interactions we take a part of. There are three elements of the looking-glass self: how we envision others see us, how we envision the way we are judged based on how we look, self-feeling like satisfaction or humiliation (Dunn, p.2). The way we think of ourselves begins to form through those closest to us like our parents. Then it progresses as we interact with a growing number of acquaintances. Cooley was critiqued because his theory made it seem as if people were so reliant of others accepting them and because of this they were always altering themselves according to their situation. However, he states that the way we view ourselves isn't as fluid as other might have interpreted, but that our image does have steadiness and is not affected easily by anymore. Cooley argues that we are influenced by people that are important. A question I would ask that would receive a response about the looking-glass self would be: Do you think the way others see you impacts the way you see yourself? A question I would ask when observing the looking-glass self theory: In what ways does the looking-glass theory impact the way they act?
Stigma
The term stigma describes the difficulty of being able to interact and be perceived in a positive way because of the way they look or act. These stigmatized people are not thought of as normal and are therefore viewed in a negative way. Some factors of stigma are having deformations and having flaws of character (Dillion, p. 291). Stigma is determined by society and can change according to what is current. For example, gay couples were for a long time stigmatized and now after several gay rights movements they have come to be accepted. A question I would ask to get feedback on the term stigma would be: How do you act around a person that has a deformity or acts in a way that is out of the norm? A question I would ask while observing them would be: What are some of their reactions towards a person with a stigma?
This chapter on ethnography centered on the setting and access to the setting. The first thing a researcher must do before beginning their field work is select a setting in where actual interaction happens. Observing a setting where people aren't doing anything and not talking to each other is not a setting a researcher should choose. When choosing a setting a researcher should take into account the location of the place, the time needed to be at this location, and whether there will be any expenses. A researcher is encouraged to choose a setting that isn't too far and cost you the least amount of traveling time and gas. Choosing a public place is the easiest route to take since you are not required to get permission to observe like you are in private places which will not always guarantee you entry into. The way you present yourself to the group is essential. It is advised that you assimilate to the way the group dresses and acts to be accepted into the group and do not run the risk of being denied access into the group. Gatekeepers are those usually in charge or at the top of the group. Gatekeepers are usually the people you should talk to for access into the group. Key informants are those in the group which provide access to important information about the group. Often times, the gatekeeper is the key informant as well.
This chapter on roles, status, relationships in ethnography looks at some of the roles and statuses fieldworkers take on and relationships they form with those in the setting. Fieldworkers that are already part of a group have to try to introduce and adapt those in his group to the research he will be conducting and balance it with his current relationships and roles in the group. Someone that is not part of the group they will be observing, has to get to know the group and try to be accepted into it. The way a fieldworker is incorporated into a group has to do on they way the fieldworker looks and the way the group sees them, which is something that can change over time. Sometimes a fieldworker can be assumed to be spy because of their task of having to take notes. An issue that can get in the way of collecting data can occur when the fieldworker becomes too involved in the group and they begin to feel like part of the group and they discontinue their fieldwork. Other issues in the field are being exposed to sex, violence and crime. Fieldworkers are advised to take action as they would any other day when faced with danger. Once a fieldworker isn't collecting new information, they should end the observation there.
The chapter on fieldnotes is explains to the reader the how they should write fieldnotes. The first thing they advise the fieldworker to do when writing their notes is to write in thick description. Writing in thick description means to try to write down as much detail as you can from the setting, the group members and their interaction. The best way to do this is to write them right away. Taking longer to write down the notes can cause a lot of important details to be forgotten. Using a laptop make this process easier because when the researcher remembers something after observing, they can easily add it in. Also, notes can be saved, sent and printed. The use of abbreviations helps the researcher write jot down notes quicker. Fieldnotes should have a lot of detail and include the times you arrived and left the setting. The names of the people observed should not be in the fieldnotes. Pseudonyms should be used instead for privacy. Once fieldnotes are done, the researchers job is to read them time and time again to be able to properly analyze them and understand the group they observe.
Qualitative interviews are about collecting data about the respondents experiences and its significance. The way an interview is setup is usually with a respondent and an interviewer. Interviews can be done through phone, internet or in person. The interviewer is the one that guides the interview and should make known the subject of the interview. From this topic, the interviewer should come up with a main research question and 10-15 questions following up the main research question. In an interview it is required to come up with these questions, choose respondents and record the interviews. When interviewing a respondent, it is required to probe and prompt. When prompting, questions asked should not be specific as they can lead the respondent to say something that did not come from them.
When choosing respondents, a researcher has to make sure to choose a day and time that works for them. The place should also be a place that is quiet and without interruptions. The interviewer should dress according to the style of the interviewees group. All of the technology that will be used to record the interview should be checked before using it to ensure that it is functioning. The researcher should inform the reason for the interview and the significance of it.
Once the interview has begun, the interviewer has the responsibility to be a good listener. They should be listening to every word and assure the respondent that they are very interested in what they are saying. The interviewer should use words of affirmation and and body language to show the respondent that they care about what they are saying.
When transcribing the interviews collected, an researcher must transcribe the interviews to be exactly the same as what was said in the audio. All of the content collected during the interview is important data that can be useful when the time to analyze it comes.
The chapter on textual data discusses the way a qualitative researcher can use magazines, historical documents, images and the internet. Magazines are a great source because they can reach a wide audience and easy and inexpensive to get a hold of. Through magazines a qualitative researcher can examine the way society shifts in values across generations. Historical sources can also be used to compare the shift of culture in society. There are two types of historical documents, primary and secondary documents. A primary document is a document written during that time era. Secondary documents are documents written about the researcher topic but not from the time era. Another source a qualitative researcher can use are images. Images capture details during the research observation that cannot be written down or remembered. Images can also demonstrate how things can change as time passes. These images can be compared to find out more about the research topic. The internet is an additional source a qualitative researcher can use for their topic. Through the internet, a researcher can get access to data from the entire world. There are various sites a researcher can visit to gain access to an abundant supply of data. There are an endless amount of sources researcher can access whether it be through the internet or through a magazine.
The chapter on analyzing qualitative data discusses analytical description. Analytical description. is finding answers in the data collected to the researchers investigation. Analytical descriptions are repeated themes found in the data. These themes can illustrate what goes on in the location the researcher selected. While looking over the data, a researcher should think of themes that can be used to code the data. These should not be coded until the researcher is fully acquainted with the data. Data should be organized and a record of all the data collected should be kept. When analyzing images a qualitative researcher should take note what if every detail in an image such as the size of the text. Words that stand out are usually key for what the image is trying to communicate. Images can illustrate different times, norms and values.
Methods
I collected my data over the course of three days. I did not utilize a pen or paper to take notes. Instead I used my phone to take down notes. I found this to be beneficial for two reasons. One of the reasons was that I would be at my full potential as an anonymous observer. By using my phone to type my notes, I would go unnoticed by people because I would not be looked at in a weird way for watching people and writing down things about them in my notebook. The second reason I decide to type my notes in my phone was because I would be able to text fast and get in as much detail as possible.
For each gathering I made sure to arrive 30 to 40 minutes before to observe interaction occurring as the people arrived and while they waited for the service to begin. I also stayed 10-20 minutes after the service to observe interaction among people that did stay a few minutes after. My first observation lasted around 50 minutes. I observed the Sunday service on March 31st at 10:15AM. In this observation I collected data based on the people welcoming guests and providing services like giving golf cart rides to the church's entrance, handing out flyers and helping people find seats. The second observation was at a women's service that takes place every Tuesday. I attended the gathering on April 2nd at 9:30AM. This observation was about an hour long. Here I observed women arriving and being welcomed, women having a conversation in groups and interaction after the service ended. My last observation was on April 4th on a Thursday night. I observed a college and young adult gathering. I arrived at 6:30PM because they have a 30 minute slot before the service at 7PM for the young adults to be able to socialize. I observed for the first 30 minutes then at the end of the service, I observed for 20 minutes.
During my first and last observations I tried to go unnoticed. However, in the observation at the women's gathering I acted as a participant observer. I sat with the women, ate with them, spoke with them about issues in my life and I prayed with them. For this observation I did have a hard time writing down notes while I was participating. Some of the content of the observations during the time I participated was from what I remembered.
During my first data collection I was nervous. I felt pressured to not miss any important details. I wish I could have relaxed to be able to calmly observe and not feel overwhelmed. After the first observation, I wasn't as nervous since I'd already done it once and managed to collect enough information. Although I did play a martian role, I felt a connection to the data I collected. Many of the information I collected is what I grew up being a part of.
For my interviews I used the Voice Memos app on my phone to record the interview. Each interview was about 15 minutes long. After finishing all three interviews I uploaded them onto the Otter transcribing website and I had to create an account to uploaded my audio files onto otter to begin the transcription process. I found Otter to be very helpful when editing the interview transcriptions. I was able to edit incorrect words and add the speakers all while listening to the audio. Once I edited all three interviews I exported a text file and pasted them all into one file.
I used Nvivo to analyze the interview data. I organized important quotes from the interview into nodes. In my interviews I found that the definition of the situation was sometimes hard to define especially when a person was new to the group. Another theory that was present in my data was the frontstage and backstage theory. All interviewees shared that they have to act in a positive way so that the people feel welcomed even though they did not always feel that way. At home they might have had a fight and when they got to church, they had to put on a smile. The looking glass self theory was also another theory I found in my interview data. The interviewees explained that the way they thought they were being perceived by others mattered a lot. Depending on the way they were approached, was the way they felt. If someone was approached in a friendly way, they felt loved. I also found the presentation of self theory in my data. They shared how they had to present their best selves with others during events so that they felt satisfied and would want to return. The final theory I analyzed my data with was role taking. Some of the roles the interviewees took were that of welcoming guests and making them feel appreciated.
Before I did my interviews I was afraid to not use the proper way of interviewing. At first it was difficult to concentrate on listening, probing and thinking of the question I was going to ask next. By the time I reached the third interview I felt pretty confident because I had gotten used to the interview techniques and because I looked at my other interviews and noticed that I collected enough data to analyze that would connect to theory.
Most of the sources for my content analysis were collected from the internet. I collected data from a few blog sites, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube accounts. From these social media sites I gathered comments responding to videos or pictures posted from the group I studied. I also collected comments explaining their experience with this group from Yelp and Google. Sources I collected other than the internet were pamphlets that the group I studied prints out each time they have gatherings. In total all these sources were collected in about a week. I spent long hours researching my groups website and social media accounts. Since I could not find enough sources, I had to refer to sources that belonged to the same group but were outside of Fresno. All of my data collected from the internet and the pamphlets were transferred onto one file by copying and pasting. This process was time consuming because I had to delete a lot of unnecessary words and spacing between each comment.
After transferring my data onto one file, I used Nvivo to analyze the data. With Nvivo the analyzing and coding process is facilitated. To the right side of the program all of my sources were displayed and to the left, the themes I found were displayed which were diagnosis, motivation, prognosis, identity frame and agency frame. Examining my data, I noticed that the group I studied believed it was an issue that people either did not know about Jesus or if they were not living according to their beliefs. They believe this is the diagnosis and work hard to solve this issue. Through motivational preaching and testimonies they want to persuade people into coming to accept their faith. They believe that the prognosis or the solution for this problem, was to help those in need so that they come to know their faith and to help those already in the group to continue to grow in their faith.
The process of finding sources and transcribing was the most difficult. I had the idea that transcribing would be simple since I was going to use the software Ncapture, however it did not transcribe the sources I found which is why I had to transcribe all of my sources manually by copying, pasting and typing out the information on the pamphlets. When I was researching my group to collect sources, it was difficult because the videos on Youtube and posts on social media did not have enough comments to analyze. The sources I collected directly from my group were from the church's website and reviews. I also researched the same group in a different location and ran into plenty of sources. I found posts on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube with several comments. I also found a few blog sites. I collected enough data to analyze and sort into different concepts. I consider that the data I collected thoroughly presents what the church group is about. I believe it will adequately inform others about the goals of their group
Analysis
Thick Description
Thick description refers to writing as much detail as possible during an observation. The researcher has to describe every aspect of a person, thing or action by using colors, shapes, etc. so that the reader can see what the researcher saw. Describing the details of the environment is important because it plays a role in the mood of the events and it gives insight on what is happening at the event.
The architecture of the church building was very clean and modern. The amount of glass windows gave it an open and inviting look. The giant cross and the word "believe" show things that are important to the church.
The larger main building has three main entrances in the front. The doors are glass doors. There is a large sign above these doors with the word "believe". The architectural style of this building looks modern and classic. It has glass doors and windows and a large glass vertical panel on one side of the wall with a giant gold cross.
(March 31st, Sunday Service)
The plants, candle and frames used in this room are some of the things one might find in a living room. I believe that the use of house decor was their attempt to make the women feel comfortable, like at home. The amount of available suggested that they were expecting a large group.
As I entered, I saw a table with a plant, candle, and sign with the groups name. The carpet was gray with a white crosshatch pattern. I saw that there was a few frames on the walls giving this room a living room vibe. There were ten round tables that could seat nine people.
(April 2nd, Women's Gathering)
This room resembled a concert. Concerts are usually dark but have a spotlight on the performers. This room had dark lighting and spotlight created with the use of modern style lamps. To give it a darker effect, two of the walls were black. This concert style room was mostly likely designed to target the college and young adults group that gathers here.
The first thing I noticed was the lighting. This room was dark except for the center of the room. There were several modern light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, however these were not on. They also had tall thin metal lamps that were the only source of lighting. The lighting of these were like spotlights. The carpet in the room was dark gray. This room had a modern look to it. The walls in the back and the front of the room were black and the other two walls of the room where white.
(April 4th, College and Young Adult's Service)
Statuses
Status is the standing of an individual in a given situation. People with higher status are most often viewed with admiration and respect. Depending on the status of each individual, they each have assigned tasks and privileges.
The woman in her twenties and old man at the door described in the quote below have been assigned to open doors and greet the guests. Due to their status as guest greeters, only they can stand at the door. This is their assigned task.
There are two people at the door. One is a woman in her late twenties. She has orange hair and light skin. She is wearing a white blouse, an orange lanyard, jeans and sandals. She is welcoming the guests that are entering. The other person at the door is an old man.
(March 31st, Sunday Service)
The pastors wife has a higher status because she is the wife of the pastor, the main leader of the church. The church has given her the task to lead the women's group at her church therefore, her responsibility as a pastors wife and women's leader is to be involved with the women by coordinating events and being in contact with the guest speakers. Here she is talking about what the speaker has planned for the day's gathering.
There was a lady who had shoulder length brown hair and a sweet gentle smile. She was thin and looked to be in her early fifties. She was the pastors wife. She was talking to a guest speaker at the front of the room. They were discussing the plan for the gathering.
(April 2nd, Women's Gathering)
Her task was to guide the women in conversation. She the only one authorized to complete this task. Because she had the status of leader, it was also her job to greet every women that sat at her table.
At each table there was a leader that guided the ladies at that table in conversation. At the table I was sitting at, our leader was wearing a green flannel shirt and jeans. She had blonde curly hair and blue eyes. She was very welcoming to the ladies at my table.
(April 2nd, Women's Gathering)
Role Taking
Role taking is when we act in a way that coordinate with the actions of others. We continually alter our actions accordingto what we think is the best way to act.
This lady picking up people in the parking lot took on the role of a server. She was providing services to those furthest away to the entrance because she thought they most likely would not want to walk that far. Also, when she asked people whether they wanted her service, she used kind words.
As I arrived I saw a lady in a golf cart driving around offering rides. She had a couple already sitting in the middle row of the golf cart. She drove up to a couple and in a loud voice said, "Hi there, would you guys like a ride?
(March 31st, Sunday Service)
The pastors wife provided comfort and attention to the guest speaker when she was nervous. She did this by using encouraging words. She altered her actions to the way the speaker was acting.
I heard the guest speaker say she was nervous but did not understand why. She said "I know I have done this with larger groups, but for some reason I'm getting so nervous." The pastors wife tried to calm her by rubbing her shoulder and giving her words of encouragement. She told her "You'll do great!
(April 2nd, Women's Gathering)
The leader at this table I observed was aware of her position and as a leader she took the initiative to greet the ladies and offer them food and coffee.
When one of the ladies at my table first arrived, our leader immediately turned her focused towards her and smiled while greeting her with a, "Good morning. Feel free to grab some brunch…or coffee." Each time the ladies arrived, she would instantly turn towards them and made them feel welcomed.
(April 2nd, Women's Gathering)
Rituals
Rituals are patterns of action practiced by an individual that go in accordance to the situation they are in.
The lady in the golf cart had developed a pattern of action where she would drive around, smile, and ask the question of whether they wanted a ride of not.
The lady in the golf cart kept driving around asking people form rides. She asked a two ladies nearby, "Would you ladies like a ride?". They responded "Sure. Thank you". The couple already in the golf cart smiled at them and said "Good morning"
(March 31st, Sunday Service)
As I observed this lady handing out pamphlets, I saw that all she did was hand out flyers and greet the people. This was her ritual. She would greet them, smile and say "Here you go", then hand them a flyer.
She was smiling as she watched them approach her. They all smiled back and she said "Hi. Here you go." She had pamphlets and flyers in her hand which she handed one of each to all three of them. They greeted her back with a "Hello" and thanked her. The old lady smiled back and looked towards the people behind them.
(March 31st, Sunday Service)
The task of the man in the blue shirt was to greet people and find them a seat. He would then talk to the man beside him. I observed this once, then I began to see a pattern, when people needed assistance to find a seat, he would do so. After he did this, he went back to talk to the same man.
The lady thanked him and they made their way through to their seats. When other people would come in, the man in the blue shirt would nod his head and smile. He would then go back to talking with the man next to him wearing a white shirt and brown dress pants.
(March 31st, Sunday Service)
Definition of The Situation
The definition of the situation is when an individual is unsure about what is occurring in a situation and they attempt to determine what is occurring. By defining a situation, an individual is now able to act in accordance with others.
When the older man at the door greeted the younger man in a loud jolly tone, the younger man walking to him instantly imitated the the old man's tone of voice and facial expressions and replied in the same jolly way.
There was a younger man coming in and he said in a loud voice, "Hello sir! How are you today?". The man smiled and responded in a same loud cheery tone "I'm doing great! Thanks for asking". The old man at the door responded, "Well, I'm glad to hear that.
(March 31st, Sunday Service)
The women at the table I observed were hesitant to share some of the problems they were facing. Some of them even giggled at a serious matter indicating that they could have been nervous about participating. When the lady in the stripe shirt participated, it was a way to break the ice and she defined the situation. Later on the rest joined in on this definition and also participated.
A few seconds passed and no one seemed to be brave enough to be the first to speak. There were some giggles and finally a lady with black hair, dark skin and a striped shirt raised her hand. She shared her issues with the ladies.
(April 2nd, Women's Gathering)
The stares and stillness of these three young adults made them look as if they unsure about what all these people were doing. From what I observed, it seems like if they were not able to define the situation because they never joined in on a conversation like the rest of the young adults and continued to stare at everyone.
Not everyone in the room was talking. I noticed that to the far left of the room in the back row there was a group of three young adults just sitting there and not talking. It was two guys and a girl. They looked to be siblings because they all had the same thin nose and light brown hair and light skin. They were serious and had blank stares. They looking at everyone talk. Once in a while, one of the boys would speak into the girls ear.
(April 4th, College and Young Adult's Service)
Definition of the Situation
Definition of the situation occurs when a person does not know how to behave in a given situation. They observe others to determine the way they should be acting. Once they define the situation, the person can now join in that same behavior.
At first Denisse was not sure what she was supposed to do. She could not define what behavior she should have taken until she observed and learned that this was a situation where women were talking about their lives. After she observes this, she begins to also share her life with the women.
And then I seen everyone like, actually sharing and talking a lot. And I was like, Okay, I guess I have to talk, you know, everybody's doing it. So I have to do it. Yeah. But I mean, I seen that everybody was supportive. (Denisse, 1st interview)
Here the church had an event where they were selling food and several people attended. Anne's description fits the definition of the situation theory because she mentioned how they were unaware of the behavior they were going to take when interacting with others. Once they had the first interaction and defined the way they should act according to the person buying food, they were able to change their behavior to be like theirs.
We don't know how people are going to react or how people are going to act towards us. And so we just try to act neutral and kind and welcoming in every situation. But we also don't know what to expect. So we we try to accommodate to different people's personalities. (Anne, 2nd interview)
When Jose first attended the church group he is a part of now, he did not know what how he should act. He was unfamiliar with the situation and that caused him to feel out of place since he could not define the situation and act in accordance with the group.
But like, at events, things were a little bit different. Like, I was awkward, and I didn't know what to do how to act because I thought, okay, these people are different than me they're. I don't feel like I'm part of them. So I didn't know like, What was I supposed to say? or How was I supposed to act? So I mean, yeah, I didn't always know what to do. I felt awkward and just a little bit confused. (Jose, 3rd interview)
Frontstage and Backstage
The frontstage theory states that people always want to make a positive impression on others. They put up an act to reveal their best self. The backstage theory is when a person is preparing to to perform in the frontstage. In the backstage people are not occupied on giving a positive impression since there is not an audience to perform too.
Denisse was aware that she had an audience at church. Even though she was upset with her husband, she had to pretend that she was happy in the frontstage because people were watching and she wanted to present a positive self. She put on an act and started smiling and greeting others with a handshake.
Maybe when I'm feeling grouchy, or tired, you know? Or maybe like, I had an argument with my husband, you know, I would probably have to act like I'm there for like, what the people around me, I would have to like, smile with them and shake their hands. (Denisse, 1st interview)
Anne was explaining the way she had to act with her group when taking her role of making new people feel comfortable. She accurately described the frontstage and backstage theory. At home she is not putting on a performance because she is alone, however when she is with her group she has to present her best self.
I would say yes because at home we're not really aware or that conscious of what we do or say. So it's more relaxed and more true to ourselves at home of course, but when you're in front of other people, you always try to put your best self forward and try to be more formal or more friendly with other people. And at home obviously, you're on your own so you don't want to you don't really care for being your best self. (Anne 2nd interview)
Jose's description shows that even when he is in a good mood, he has to pretend like he is because he is being watched by the people walking inside the church. Jose's job is to greet people when they are arriving to church so he always has an audience while standing at the entrance. He has not other option but to present a happy and friendly self even if that is not the way he feels.
We can't be standing there was like a frown or like a ugly mean face even if we're, like, upset or something, because there are times where obviously, you know, I wake up on the wrong side of the bed and obviously, I'm not, that's not being reflected on my face. I obviously have to change the attitude, even though I'm not that way. You know, even though I don't feel that way. I have to act that way. (Jose, 3rd interview)
Looking Glass Self
The looking glass self theory states that we develop ideas about who we are based on the way we think others perceive us. We visualize how others see us, we visualize how we are perceived based on how we look and we either feel good or bad about ourselves.
Because of her age, Denisse felt like there was a barrier and she felt like she did not fit in. She did not want to be thought of as someone that did not fit in because of the age and lifestyle difference. The way she thought these older ladies thought of her affected her in a negative way because she was feeling anxious about being "the odd one out".
I didn't want them to know the details of my life. And also, because they were like, older ladies. And I was like, the youngest one, and, you know, they just have a different type of life than I do. You know, I just think I would be, I would have under, like, just different from them, you know, I just probably just didn't want to feel like, the odd one out or whatever. (Denisse, 1st interview)
The way Anne was being treated by her group had a positive affect on her. She was being greeted in a nice way. She concluded by the way they treated her that they thought of her as a positive influence. This made Anne feel satisfied about who she is which was based on the way they welcomed her.
I get there and everyone's happy to see me and welcoming, then that makes me feel good and like think Oh, these people are really happy to see me I must be a positive influence and it makes me happy that they really welcoming and it changes my entire attitude that day or on youth group. (Anne, 2nd interview)
Jose described how he was approached by members of his group when he first joined. The affection shown to Jose made him create a positive view of himself. He felt important to these people because of the way they treated him.
It actually became something that I really, like, enjoyed and valued. And so I felt cared for and like loved. And so just them treating me nice and coming up to me and wanting to talk to me, made me feel good. So yes. Yeah, it impacted me. It made me feel happy and loved and just cared about. So yeah. I'd say yes. (Jose, 3rd interview)
Presentation of Self
The presentation of self theory states that people present the best version of themselves to give off a good impression and to please the audience.
Anne is describing the way her group presents themselves to other young adults. They want to present a kind and helpful self. Her group wants to give off a positive image that pleases those they are interacting with.
But we obviously do put our best self forward. And we want to be a good example for our youth group. And what what we're representing when we go out to different events and say it's a community event, we want to put, we want to show that we're respectful and kind and helpful, and that our youth group is like that, and we want to and we just want to let people know that we're like that. So there is a role of being kind and helpful to others. (Anne, 2nd interview)
In the description below, Anne talks about a time where her group was selling food. The presentation of self is seen in the way they want to be recognized as a welcoming church to those watching and interacting. They want to present a nice self so that they want to attend events like this again.
Like when we're selling food or when we have different community events, we always try to be nice and welcoming to everybody. And we want them to come back and we want that we want to show them what our churches what our youth group stands for. (Anne, 2nd interview)
Jose wants to present a positive self because that is what he wants to be remembered as, as a jolly person. He does this to please the people attending church so that they feel comfortable with the person he is.
I have to say, because, I mean, I guess I have a reputation. And so like, I feel like I have to be smiling and I don't want anyone to know me as that grouchy person, you know, I want to be seen as that happy person that you know, everybody feels comfortable with to approach. I don't want to be known as the grouch that everyone is afraid of where that has a lot of issues and is never happy. (Jose, 3rd interview)
Role Taking
Role taking theory is when a person takes on a role that compliments the roles of others. These roles are continuously changing to accommodate to the person one is interacting with.
The role Denisse's leader took of showing affection through smiling and touching helped her feel better. The leader took the roles to accommodate to the way Denisse was feeling. She took the role of a comforter to break the ice for Denisse.
Well, the leader especially, she had a very, I don't know how to explain like, a very kind face, like, you know, she would just like look at us and smile, and I can touch her shoulders, like, you know, like, Everything's gonna be okay. Like, she was very motherly. So I mean, being like that, you know, obviously, convinces everybody to, to talk and to, to want to be there, actually. So I guess that's what helped me out. (Denisse, 1st interview)
The role Anne and her group take is one of a guide. The young adults that attend for the first time a probably unfamiliar with what is happening so Anne and her group change their behavior and take the guide role to match the way the new people are feeling.
Say that if there's someone new you take them under your wing try to make them feel welcome and explain what's going on and we usually do what the youth group leaders tell us or we give our new ideas that we have or just follow along with what everyone else does. (Anne, 2nd interview)
Jose is takes the role of a greeter. He welcomes people in and has to look and act in a cheerful way so that the people coming into church feel happy.
Well, I mean, I don't have to, but I choose to. Because first of all, it was role I was assigned. So like we mentioned earlier, that's my role. It was a role I was assigned by my leader, I was obviously told the stand there welcome people and be happy. So that's one of the reasons why I have to do it, because I chose to be in that position to serve in that area. So I have to smile. (Jose, 3rd interview)
Diagnosis Frame
The diagnosis frame is when there is persuasion involved. This takes place when a group is attempting to get a person to change the way they think by telling them that there is an issue or an injustice. The problem defined in the quote below is written by a member of the group I studied in response to a criticism the church received. They state that group members are being tormented by the "devil" and that it is a continuous problem. Here the issue is the criticisms about their church. They use positive words to persuade others that the tormenting of their group results in a positive outcome.
"Such 'persecutions' are always followed by a manifestation of the power God in dimensions unknown and unimaginable. the devil is stupid like that, he should no better by now, but he keeps playing the same card."
This quote from the church's page expresses what they feel the church needs. The problem they are experiencing is that they do not have enough room for the children and that access for parents to their children's classes need to be made easier. They also discuss the need for more room for the church members to interact. The use of the words "faith family" can be a way the church is using language to persuade those that browse their page to give donations to the church so that they can help provide easier access for the children's rooms and more space for the church members to interact.
"Our Childrens area is outdated and extremely difficult for our guests to find. As more and more young families are drawn to our Faith Family, we are seeing classrooms that are over capacity. While that's a good problem to have, it's still a problem. We also have little to no community space. To meet these pressing needs,the project will add new and significant Children's space, create community, and connection space both inside and outside."
The following quote was taken from the comments section at a blog site. Here the issue for this member of the group I studied is not feeling sufficient enough to do what they mention "called to do". Although they are not specific about what they are supposed to do, it is evident that they are troubled because they do not feel confident to do tasks group members are expected to do.
"I have been going through a difficult time in my life. God has called me to do certain things which seemed like they were too much. They seemed like I couldn't do it. Everything was against it. The devil started lying to me that I can't do it. That there is no way I can balance everything. That I am too lazy, too underqualified, ...just not fit to do what I have been called to do."
Motivation Frame
When a group discusses their beliefs and the reason for which they act upon an issue or injustice, this is known as motivation frame. A group will usually have some sort of encouragement to move people to take action into the direction they believe is best. The quote below is from a christian school website that the church group I observed is affiliated with. They view God as an authority and therefore must follow all the laws God has put into place. They also value children because as the quote states, they are a "creation of God", so they deserve to be treated in a fair way and receive a faith-based education.
"Our philosophy is based on a God-centered view that Gods laws, principles, ethics and standards are absolute truth; that the Bible is the inspired Word of God; and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and sustainer of all things. Each child is viewed as a separate and unique creation of God, therefore, every child is accepted and loved based on this premise."
The following quote was taken from the church's website. The motivation that keeps the church running is getting others to accept their faith. The goal for the church is to convince people is to come to know Jesus and become part of the group.
"The mission of our church is to help people see God and participate in His redemptive story. This is a sincere, deeply felt, and compelling belief that has its roots dating back to the establishment of this church in 1954. This church has always expressed its passion for people to come to faith in Jesus."
The issue expressed below is not doing what "God tells you" and focusing on yourself instead of others. This group member is explaining how God wants them to "impact" people. The action needed to take by this group member is vague, however their motivation is to help people out.
"After watching this video God is showing me that whatever He has called me to do is not about me. It is about the people He wants to impact through me. Whatever task God tells you to do is not majorly about you. It's about that soul that will be impacted when you do what God has told you."
Prognosis Frame
Prognosis frame is when the solution to an issue or injustice is presented. This will tell the group what steps are necessary to solve the issue or injustice at hand. The quote below describes what a member of a church feels what should and should not be done. This person is stating that the right thing to do is what God wants and have faith in what God says.
"Yes, He will save us. This is not to say, however, that our lives will be what we think they should be. We pray for his will to be done, not ours.We are asked to pick up our crosses and to carry them.We are asked to lean not on our own understanding."
The correct thing to do as a member of the group according to Ester is to help children in Mexico. Her solution is to provide basic needs to poor children and also to teach the, about her faith. She does this by traveling to Mexico and assisting children.
"Ester, who grew up in Fresno, has been part of our church missionary family since 2002. She currently serves as the Mexico Country Coordinator, which exists to transform the lives of children living in poverty with the Good News Jesus Christ through education and ministries of compassion. In her role as a coordinator, she often travels to schools that are paired with local churches ministering to children, their families, and School staff members."
This quote is from the christian school the group I studied is affiliated with. They recommend that the students lives revolve around their faith, that is at home, school and church. They state that they should live a christian life.
"The students home, church and school experiences and training should be a preparation for a life of fellowship with God and of service to others. Students should be encouraged to become spiritually mature and grow into Christ-likeness."
Agency Frame
Stories that inspire people to become part of a group are known as agency frame. These stories will usually talk about an positive experience while being in the group. This description accurately describes the agency frame. It is about a boy in a wheelchair that gets baptized. This quote is taken from a Youtube video comments section. It can be used to inspire other to get baptized and also inspires people to continue in their faith. This person is clearly impacted by the video by the words they used to express themselves such as "wow" and "thanks for making and sharing this video".
"But the story of the boy who was watching at home, in a wheelchair opened the flood gates...wow.. how precious thinking that his mother cared and loved him so much as to drive him to church that very night so he could be baptized. Thats what a mothers love looks like! God bless them both. I imagine t changed their lives to this day. Thanks for making and sharing this video.."
The following quote is from a comment left on Facebook about a preaching this person listened too. The person preaching shared their testimony and this influenced the listener to take action in his faith. They literally write that they will make changes according to what God wants.
"Amazing Testimony. your message touched me this morning. It too know about selfish ways. Your testimony made me see my ways and the importantness of making changes in my life through God. I'm glad I was present to receive your message. I want to say thank you!"
The preachings this person mentions they enjoy, inspire this person to continue in their faith. They feel united with their group and positive about being a part of this group.
"It's my home away from home, feel the love. Love the sermons and bible studies, they are my growth periods in the Word of God. Always something to do together as a whole. It's a family church. Helping others and you help yourself mentally, physically and Most Spiritually!"
Identity
Identity frame looks at the group and those outside of the group. It identifies who are those in the group and who are those that are against the group. This quote is illustrating the members of the church group. The person that wrote this quote is happy to be part of this group because he is received well by the pastor and staff. They state that they are treated like a family.
"I'm telling you this church has a good feel to it very nice people and I'm not just talking about the pastor or the staff the people that attend there are cool too so if your looking for church that really just takes care of you and your family In every way from lunches to free daycare than this is the place for you don't let the size of the church scare you once you get to know a few people it feels just like a family God bless."
This quote is defining who is against the group they are a part of. They believe that what is against their group is not a person but instead the "devil". The devil is their enemy because he is against group members being joyful and succeeding in life.
"The devil will try to stop you in every way, He will throw everything at you because he is afraid of the impact. The devil won't be happy. But the devil won't win. Every snake, every shipwreck will not prosper."
This person writes that the obstacle of their group are rumors people make about the church. Those that make rumors about the church are the outsiders. They also write that after experiencing these public embarrassments, the church has positive consequences. Those that experience this are part of the group.
"As a Christian and a member of the body of Christ. And also as a member of a local assembly that has faced various forms of these kind of "scandals" I can only say that after a phase like this, the Glory of God on the ministry just explodes! I mean you would see growth, you would see the anointing in dimensions you've never seen before. it is something I have always observed."
Conclusion
The interview process was the most difficult part of this research. However, after my first two interviews, I felt more confident in my interviewing skills. I collected detailed data that perfectly fit into theories that we learned about in class. The nodes I created were definition of the situation, frontstage and backstage, looking glass self, presentation of self and role taking. As I analyzed my data with these theories, I found that the group I selected to observe focuses around others and making others feel welcomed into the group. Also, because they did have to make others feel welcomed, they had to do this in a positive way, even if they were not feeling so great. For example, one of the interviewees explained that sometimes he does not feel like being joyful but he has to pretend because he had the role of a greeter at the church entrance. Roles that were taken where those of a guide or comforter to others. In conclusion, the goal of my group, according to what I found in my data, is to create a positive environment for everyone in the group so that they keep attending and so that more people attend.
Observing for the first time is a challenging thing. I tried to minimize the difficulty of this research practice by using my phone to take notes down and by only conducting one participant observation out of three observations. After collecting data on the group I observed, I uploaded the field notes onto NVivo where I divided data into different categories called nodes and labeled them according to the theories I found in my data. The theories I found where thick description, statuses, role taking, rituals and definition of the situation. In NVivo, I also analyzed my data by creating a word cloud from the most frequently used words. I found that "smile" and "looked" were most commonly used in my field notes. Through analyzing my data, I found that in this church there were people with different statuses that took on roles to fit their status. Often times, these roles became rituals. For example, the pastors wife was of high statues because is the pastors wife and because she was in charge of the women's group at the church. Her job was to make sure everything went smoothly and that the women participating were greeted in a positive way. She also took on the role as a comforter when one of the women wasn't feel too well. The people at the doors greeting the guests developed a ritual of welcoming guests at they walked in. Overall, this was an experience I do not regret doing as I gained several abilities in observing, taking notes and coding.
After collecting data through the web and from pamphlets about the group I studied, I analyzed the data on Nvivo. I found the following concepts in my data: diagnosis, motivation, prognosis, identity frame, agency frame. These concepts illustrate what the group I studied is about. I found data about who this church is, what are the goals for this church, what they felt were issues, how they should address these issues, ways to stay motivated towards solving this issues and inspirational stories to join the group. The main theme I found in all of my data is that group members felt the need to share their faith with others through teachings about the Bible and maintain these beliefs throughout their lives. I also examined my data through a word frequency query. Here I found that the most commonly words were "pastor", "people", "church" and "worship". This words perfectly describe my group's environment, they attend a church and worship along with the pastor and other people. I consider the data collected for my research to be precise as it portrayed exactly what my group does and believes in.
References
Dillon, M. (2013). Introduction to sociological theory : Theorists, concepts, and their applicability to the twenty-first century. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Dunn, J. L. (2010). Looking-Glass Self. Encyclopedia of Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. Sage Reference. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412972017.n165
Robinson, L. & Schulz, J. (2016). Eliciting Frontstage and Backstage Talk with the Iterated Questioning. Sociological Methodology. American Sociological Association. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44282485
Sandstrom, K., Martin, D., Fine, G. A. Role Taking, Role Making, and the Coordination of Action
Scott, J. (2015). Symbolic Interactionism. A Dictionary of Sociology. Oxford University Press. http://www.oxfordreference.com.hmlproxy.lib.csufresno.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780199683581.001.0001/acref-9780199683581-e-2306?rskey=XB97Og&result=3
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