Conducting+Legitimate+Research

As upperclassmen and eventual college students, you will be provided with opportunities to do many different kinds of research, including laboratory experiments and statistical surveys. In this case, we are building a historical project. For this History Day Project, as well as the upcoming assignments in this course you will have the flexibility to use three basic types of research, as long as your findings are legitimate and honest. These Three Basic Research Types are: =**Field Research**= Field Research might be the most fulfilling kind of research in both college and high school primarily because it is the most "hands-on" and objective of the three. When I use the word "objective", it means that the research has no biases and the data that is obtained is pure. If you are using research to purify and polish your argument on an issue, field research is the best form of research that you can conduct because the data that you have obtained helps you to prove your argument without the bias of a source such as an encyclopedia influencing your thinking. Since the goal of this project is for you to take a position on an issue, whether it is a historical or contemporary issue, field research would be an awesome kind of research to help you accomplish this.
 * Field Research Using Observation and Interview
 * Library Research
 * Internet Research

How to Conduct Field Research:
Field Research is split into two categories. If you are studying an event, such as the Japanese Internment during World War II and you are focusing on the families that lived in Ewa Beach, you would simply go into the **field**. For this topic, that **"field"** that you would be going into would be the Internment site at Ewa Beach. The second, and probably more interesting category, is the category called **ethnographic research**. Ethnographic Research is fun because it is research conducted that focuses on a particular ethnic group or culture. What is a good example of an Ethnographic Research Project? A __** case study **__, that either you yourself conduct (a self-directed case study is more likely to produce an "A" or higher), or find, on a specific group of people. When I was in Graduate School working on my Master's Thesis, I considered doing an Ethnographic Study, but because of time constraints I was unable to conduct a full review. I did, however, read an interesting Ethnographic Study conducted in American Samoa. The researcher tracked a group of young Samoan boys who had the intention of becoming professional football players. The researcher observed and reviewed how these boys were doing in school, what they were eating as they grew up, what their hobbies and interests were, all the way until they became full-fledged adults. Many of the research subjects shifted into other careers. A handful made it onto a college team. One or two actually turned professional. If you wish to conduct ethnographic research, be sure to let me know as soon as possible so that we can work out a plan of action during Tutorial. __Observation__ Here are some guidelines for planning an observational visit, taking notes on your observations, and reflecting on what you have observed. //Planning an Observational Visit//: To ensure that you maximize your time use at an observation site, you must plan your visit carefully. __Note-Taking__ __Interview__
 * Categories of Field Research**
 * Carrying Out Field Research**
 * 1) //Getting Access//: Learn whether or not the place is private or public. If it is private, you may have to call or email the organization that runs the site and ask them for guidelines and rules for outside observers. If it is a public site, that is one that is run by the government, then you should not have a problem with your observations. To be on the safe side however, you should be as informative to the organization as possible in order to avoid trouble of any sort. If you plan on audio-recording or filming your observations as future references, you may need to check with the organization, be it public or private.
 * 2) //Announcing your Intentions//: In your email or phone call, use polite language to explain who you are, where you are from, and why. Most organizations are extremely receptive to student-researchers, no-matter what their level of schooling. Their helpfulness, in fact, may lead beyond just the use of their site. They may point you in the direction of other organizations who can provided you with more information.
 * 3) //Bringing Tools//: Using audio or video recording equipment may improve the quality of your project, however you must REMEMBER to obtain approval from the organization to use such equipment FIRST. A simple spiral notebook and a mechanical pencil are excellent and sufficient tools to use in the field.
 * 1) In the field, try to use ALL and ANY vantage points that are available to you, when you are observing. Remember to label the note section for each vantage point you use so that way you can refer to it easier when writing your paper.
 * 2) Suggestions for Notetaking Specifically:
 * Write on only one side of the page. Later, when you organize your notes, you may want to cut up the pages and file the notes under specific headings that represent targeted categories.
 * Along with writing words, phrases or sentences, draw diagrams or sketches to illustrate or recall the places that you saw for memory recall.
 * You may use abbreviations as much as you like, but use them consistently and clearly. You could also use symbols or pictographs to shorthand words while you are note taking. Either way, be sure that you prepare some kind of "abbreviation bank" or "symbol key" prior to the day you observe so that you have it ready.
 * As soon as ideas or questions appear in your mind, log them in your notes.
 * If you overhear a conversation or a monologue from one of the site's guides, be sure to place their words into quotes. With all do respect, conversations are private so do not go up to the people talking and ask their name. Instead, cite the conversations by number. Example: (Conversation 1)
 * Observation notes are NOT meant to be systematic, but random. You can organize them systematically when you are preparing your notes for incorporation into your paper.
 * //The Place//: Begin by listing objects you see. Add details of these objects. List key features about the observation point that can help you define why you chose it.
 * //The People//: Note the number of people and their activities, movements, and behavior. Describe their appearance. Record overheard conversations. What is the man-to-woman ratio of the place?? Note features of the place that are surprising or unusual.
 * //Your Impressions//: Include in your notes the feelings, ideas, or insights you have about what you observe.
 * __Post Observation Reflection__: Immediately after your observation visit, reflect on the following questions:
 * 1) What did you learn?
 * 2) How did this visit change or confirm your preconceptions ( vocab word to look up) about your historical issue?
 * 3) What impression of the place and people would you convey (vocab word) to your audience??
 * Planning the Interview