The Outsider
(Minimum 5 Pages +Work Cited)
In order to develop one’s Sociological Imagination and gain insight into the social world, C. Wright Mills proposed that individuals needed to be able to view their own society from the perspective of an outsider. Mills suggested that our personal/cultural bias often fogged our interpretation of the world and left people misinformed as to the connectedness of personal troubles to the structural conditions of society.
For this assignment, students are expected to gain insight and understanding of a particular group, culture, or institution by visiting an establishment from which they are considered an “Outsider”. You may use observational methods, interviews, pictures (place in appendix), or informal conversations to conduct your research. Consider a religious establishment outside of your own, a cultural event or subculture, or a place/activity generally recommended for that of the opposite sex. Students should spend 3-4 hours with their chosen group or establishment.
Follow general paper guidelines as defined in your syllabus and make sure you cite any sources. Please remember to always be respectful while visiting, and if you aren’t sure of the norms ask someone for guidance. See the website easybib.com for work cited formatting and information.
Introduction (1 page)
Where did you visit and why are you considered an “Outsider”? Why did you choose this particular establishment/group? What were your feelings about the group before going and how did you establish those feelings? How did you feel on a personal level (nervous, scared, excited, etc.) before and after? How did the group receive you?
What are the stereotypes surrounding this particular group/institution? Do you believe these stereotypes were dismantled or reinforced? What are the functions or dysfunctions of these stereotypes?
Literature Review (2 pages)
Students should review relevant literature and have a basic understanding of the workings of your group and or establishment before they enter. Based on the literature reviews, students should develop a hypothesis that they intend to study or a question that they intend to answer. Explicitly state your hypothesis is a sub-section of the literature review
Methods/Data Collection (1/2 page)
Students should develop a plan of how they intend to collect their data. The research methods you to utilize will be determined by your personal preferences. Students might consider interviews, observational methods, or convenience samples via surveys. If you put together a survey, please include it in the appendix. Make sure you stay organized and plan accordingly. And be mindful of how you interpret your findings, you should try to maintain as objective as possible.
Observational Data: Take notes on what you see and hear. You might want to remain discrete by using your phone instead of a notepad. Attempt to use all your senses to really immerse yourself in the group. Make sure you stay open to other observable patterns and understanding as they emerge by paying attention to the details.
Interviewing: You should audio record and always ask your respondent for their permission. If you can’t audio record take notes and do your best to add in the details after the interview. When interviewing, it’s important that you listen carefully to your respondent. Make sure to not lead them in a direction that fulfills your own opinions. Always be respectful and do not make any value judgments. Encourage your respondent to clarify or provide any additional information that you may not be familiar with.
Analysis and Discussion (2 pages)
This is the section of the paper where you look to find meaning. Ask yourself how you can make sense of all of this. What are the patterns and processes that you noticed that can be analyzed and deconstructed? How might your observations be relevant to your previous research or terms and concepts we have discussed in the course. Keep in mind it is perfectly acceptable to modify your hypothesis if you aren’t able to answer your initial question, just make sure to note it in your paper.
Some ideas to contemplate:
What were the “norms” of this particular group and why do you think they exist? Are there any historical elements that you think may have contributed to these norms? How and why did they differ from those of the larger society? How are these norms functional for the group? Can you note any elements of inequality or dysfunction? How do you believe group affiliates were impacted on a psychological level? Were there any cultural/social norms of which you were uncertain of and how did you navigate this obstacle? Was there anyone from the group who served as a gatekeeper? How do these norms provide meaning to the group? What were the structural conditions (did you observe any ranking) involved and from where are they based?