ANALYZING ONLINE SOCIAL SETTINGS

Description

For this assignment, you will: 1) carefully observe two examples of a specific type of online social setting 2) combine your observations into a description of a) the social setting and b) what typically occurs within it by focusing on a social role OR on interaction patterns; 3) sociologically discuss and analyze what you found.Some Examples of Specific Kinds of Online Social Settings●Online Classrooms●Social Media Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok, Snapchat, LinkedIn●Online Meetings or Social settings such as Zoom, Google Hangout, House Party●Online Dating Apps●Emails (paying attention to email etiquette and responses)●Messaging and Communication such as Messenger, Whatsapp, SMS●Online Games ●Comments sections of various news sites and music players like YouTube●Company profiles (corporate profiles and media profiles of corporations) Note:the project paper will NOT be marked unless a Proposal (Assignment #1) has been submitted by the specified deadline. Be sure to integrate feedback from your Proposal Assignment for this Final Project (Assignment #2). Though your proposal can be used as a guide, be sure not repeat or copy-paste what was written in your Proposal.1. The Field Worki) Select a specific kind of online social setting to study (such as those listed above).ii)Participate in and/or observe two examples of that online social setting as a participant observer.iii) Carefully observe: a) what the three online settings have in common, and b) what typically goes on in it in terms of a social role and status OR interaction patterns. a) The Setting: pay detailed attention to what is commonly foundin the two examples of the online social setting you have observed and the significance of those similaritiesb) The Social Position: list the main positions in the setting, but focus on onesocial position (see Topic 4 Lecture).OR 2Interaction Patterns: focus on the interaction patterns occurring within that setting as well as the norms, beliefs and values governing these patterns.Focus your observations on what is typical or recurring in the three examples, including what might first seem to be insignificant details. Do not get distracted by differences or engagein comparisons, although it is okay to note significant variations in your report. Make sure to relate back to course content (readings, online lectures, slides, discussion posts).Introduction Section (Section 1):(~0.5 page)What are you going to doand why are you doing it? Identify the specific online setting you will be studying and what you will be focusing on.Method Section (Section 2): (~0.5 page)What exactly did you do in your field study?Outline a) the general approach you took to your study (e.g., participant observation method for gathering data, Goffman’s dramaturgic theory and the symbolic interactionist approach to understanding social life and society), and b) the details of how you did your particular project, including the names of the examples you visited. Briefly discuss any difficulties you encountered in setting up or carrying out the field project.Results Section (Section 3): Organizing and Describing Your ObservationsCombine your observationsof the two different examples into a single general description or typical profile of what you found regarding a) the social setting, and b) the social position you focused on orthe interaction patterns you observed. 3A.The Social Setting: (~0.5 page)There may be many differences among the settings, but your interest is in what is common, shared, or recurring. The richer your description of the setting the better because the set-up and general design of the online setting provides a symbolic context for what goes on in it. This means you should discuss the symbolic significance of what you concretely observed here or in a later section. 3B. Social Position: (~1 pages)There may be a few main social positions in the setting you selected. List them. But describe therole expectations and status associated with only ONE social position in detail. Social roles are complex. Use the course content about Goffman to help you organize this section.OR 33BInteraction Patterns: (~1 pages)If your emphasis is on interaction patterns, focus on a set of recurring patterns of action and interaction among participants that you found significant. You will also want to articulate the norms, beliefs and values governing these patterns and what is being expressed through them. 4. Sociological Discussion/Analysis: (~1 pages)The aim is to illuminate or understand the setting and what’s going on in it by inquiring into the different levels of meaning of how the setting is organized and what’s going on in it sociologically.Role performances and interactional patterns fulfill obvious practical goals as well as less obvious cultural purposes or social functions, whether on or offline. So, you need to ask probing questions about whatis being done, and about the wayeverything has been organized.Most things that are regularly done don’t really have to be done. And almost everything that’s done could be done otherwise. Sowhy are people regularly doing thisin these settings in the waythey are? Why is the setting organized in the way it is?Discussingmeans connecting what you found to sociological concepts, research, or theories covered in the course or that you’ve found by researching resources outside the course.Analyzingmeans drawing on sociological concepts, research and theory to advance a theoretic insight or idea that you have into what’s going on and why, and developing that insight or idea in detail by accounting for the various parts of what you generally observed in the setting and in what’sgoing on there.Conclusion and References/Resources5. Conclude by discussing what you learned, if anything, from doing this study. (~0.5 page)5. a. List your references you directly quote or paraphrase in-text on a separate page at the end (make sure to follow APA/MLA citation-style rules).The Written PaperThe written paper should: be double-spaced; be 4 pages in length (excluding the title page at the beginning and reference page at the end); preferably word-processed; adhere to accepted rules and conventions of English grammar and composition; and demonstrate sound argumentation, appropriate use of evidence, and responsible use of rhetoric. The discussion/analysis should demonstrate an understanding of sociological concepts andtheory. Again, please reference course material using a proper citation method (APA or MLA). Outside material is not required, but if you do cite outside material, please reference it properly as well.