Ethnographic Fieldwork Science Discussion

Ethnographic Fieldwork AssignmentGoal: To collect two (2) forms of ethnographic data for your final project. For your final project, you are
required to collect a minimum of two different types of data. You are welcome to collect more, if you
have time and if you think it will be helpful to your project.
In this class and in the Anthropology program, we have discussed the various research methods listed
below (some to greater degrees than others). Discuss 2 that you plan to implement on the “Research
Plan” grid. And, discuss the outcomes of your data collection on the “Data Collected” grid featured
below.
Deadline: Monday, April 10: upload your “Research Plan” and “Data Collected” grids to Canvas
Ethnographic Research Methods
Observational Methods
Participant observation
Behavioral Mapping (see Setha Low)
Movement Mapping (see Setha Low)
Cultural resource mapping (when you map resources that are culturally significant to a
community)
Time motion studies (see William Whyte’s film)
Interview approaches
Key informant interviews (when you interview a person with a special perspective in the
community
Semi structured interviews
Transect walks (when you interview someone while they walk and point out
culturally and socially significant spaces and views in a landscape)
Transect drives (same as above only while driving or taking a bus or train)
Mapping social networks (when you map out individuals’ relationships based on
information you gather when surveying or interviewing someone)
Archival research
Gathering any of the following:
Grey literature, maps, brochures, menus, photos, tweets, documentation of signage,
videos, musical recordings, news paper stories, letters, official documents
Others??
Research Plan Grid
Method
What I expect to learn from
this method
How I plan to
implement this
method (e.g., how
long and where will
When I expect to
collect data
Special
considerations
(anything you want
me to know about
I observe? How
many people will I
speak with? How
many people will I
count, etc.)
your effort to
collect data)
1.
2.
Extra
Data Collected Grid
Method
1.
2.
Extra
Dates of
Data
Collection
Summary of Data Collected
(what did you collect, how
much, what forms [maps,
notes, photos, documented
conversations, etc.)
Reflections on the data
collected and the
experience of collecting
data
Challenges
encountered in the
Field
Tamara Shakhnazaryan
Ethnography Project Annotations
● Reference: Rocco, R. & Marcuse, P. (2016). Gentrification and the effects of
displacement: The case of Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Journal of Urban
Affairs, 38(4), 528-548. DOI: 10.1111/juaf.12238
Concerning my research on Melrose Avenue, the paper by Rocco and Marcuse (2016) is
particularly useful because it analyzes how gentrification has changed the area, particularly
regarding evictions and income disparity. Researchers discovered that rising property prices on
Melrose Avenue were linked to the declining availability of low-cost housing and a widening
income gap. While researching gentrification’s effects on a neighborhood’s social and economic
fiber, these data could prove informative. To guarantee that urban renewal helps all community
members, the study emphasizes the necessity for policies that balance economic growth and
social fairness. As a result, this essay could serve as a helpful guide for my research and as a
basis for your investigation of gentrification’s consequences along Melrose Avenue.
During the last few decades, Melrose Avenue has undergone several significant changes,
including the gentrification of the surrounding region and the displacement of low-income
residents. The gentrification of Melrose Avenue was linked, according to the findings of a study
published in the Journal of Urban Affairs, not only to an increase in property values but also to a
decrease in the availability of affordable housing and an increase in the level of socioeconomic
inequality. To ensure that urban regeneration benefits all community members, the study stresses
the necessity for policies that strike a balance between economic development and social
fairness.
● Reference: Xie, P., Chen, J. & Wang, D. (2018). Travel motivation and behavior of
young adults: The case of Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Journal of Travel
Research, 57(7), 916-930. DOI: 10.1177/0047287517731924
Xie, Chen, and Wang’s (2018) article shed light on the reasons why and how young adults
of Melrose Avenue choose to travel. This data could be helpful as my research focuses on
what draws young adults to the street and how they engage with the built environment. A
majority of young adults frequent Melrose Avenue for the purpose of socializing, selfimprovement, and entertainment, according to the survey. To attract and keep young adults
as tourists and locals, the study recommends that urban planners and tourism marketers
craft experiences that play to these objectives. Consequently, this essay could aid me in
comprehending the requirements of urban young adults and guiding my work in promoting
Melrose Avenue as a destination for this group.
Young folks are drawn to Melrose Avenue for the fashionable clothes stores and
restaurants that can be found on this street, and Melrose Avenue is a trendy destination.
According to the findings of a study recently published in the Journal of Travel Research,
the primary elements that influence the travel behavior of young adults are the
opportunities for personal development and socialization.
● Reference: Jeffries, M. (2015). The power of street art in shaping urban identity:
The case of Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Journal of Urban Design, 20(1), 1-16.
DOI: 10.1080/13574809.2014.985684
Jeffries’s (2015) piece explores how murals and other forms of street art have helped give
Melrose Avenue its unique character. Since my research topic concerns streets’ cultural and
aesthetic identity, this data could prove valuable. The research concluded that street art on
Melrose Avenue significantly contributed to developing the street’s identity by establishing a
distinct and instantly recognizable visual language mirrored the street’s diverse and diversified
personality. In addition, the research indicates that street art can be an effective instrument for
community involvement and place-making by fostering communication and pride in local
communities among visitors and locals alike. As a result, this essay could aid me in
comprehending the cultural and social relevance of street art in urban settings and informing the
creation of strategies to support the role of street art in the identity and vitality of Melrose
Avenue.
The neighborhood’s cultural identity is greatly influenced by the public artwork that can be found
along Melrose Avenue. According to the findings of a study that was recently published in the
Journal of Urban Design, the presence of street art in a community can increase the amount of
foot traffic, foster a sense of place, and promote local businesses, all of which contribute to the
neighborhood’s social and economic vitality.
● Reference: Koo, D. & Min, K. (2017). Factors affecting the success of small retail
businesses on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Journal of Retailing and Consumer
Services, 38, 75-83. DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2017.05.003
Koo and Min’s (2017) article analyzes what makes Melrose Avenue a good place for small
retailers. Because I am investigating the dynamics of the local economy and the elements that
lead to the success or failure of enterprises on the street, this data could prove helpful to my
research. Location, marketing, product diversity, and customer service were all found to play a
role in the success of Melrose Avenue’s small shops. In addition, the study’s findings indicate
that local small enterprises can successfully compete with national chains by developing
individualized customer service and innovative products. I hope that by reading this article, I will
gain insight into the opportunities and threats faced by Melrose Avenue’s small companies and
be better equipped to devise measures to encourage the expansion and longevity of the local
economy.
Melrose Avenue’s highly competitive retail climate poses some difficulties for the numerous
small businesses that call this street home. According to the findings of a study recently
published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, the success of small businesses
may be attributed to aspects such as the company’s location, the product range offered, and the
quality of the service provided to customers.
● Reference: McHugh, K. & Weinstein, M. (2019). The cultural geography of Melrose
Avenue: Historical narratives and the production of place. Journal of Cultural
Geography, 36(2), 171-189. DOI: 10.1080/08873631.2018.1508134
McHugh and Weinstein’s (2019) article investigates Melrose Avenue’s cultural geography by
evaluating the historical narratives and artistic representations defining the street’s character. This
data could prove invaluable for this study as it sheds light on Melrose Avenue’s cultural and
historical relevance and its development over time. According to the research, Melrose Avenue
has been featured in numerous popular culture narratives and depictions, such as those associated
with punk rock, hip hop, and street art. All of these depictions have made this street what it is
today—a cultural and artistic center of Los Angeles. Further, the research reveals that knowledge
of Melrose Avenue’s cultural geography necessitates an appreciation of the street’s complex and
deep past and an awareness of the different ethnic communities that have contributed to its
identity. So, this article could assist me in gaining a deeper and more nuanced comprehension of
Melrose Avenue’s cultural relevance and inform the formulation of measures to promote its
cultural and creative sectors.
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