A Guideline
There is no way not to use this campus for deeper understanding of the dynamics of ethnicity and immigrant experience. By directly talking to the students of different ethnic groups, listening to their stories, and exchanging views with them, you’ll increase your understanding of the issues surrounding ethnicity and immigrant experiences beyond the textbooks and classroom discussions. The followings are requirements:
1. Select two ethnic groups besides your own. Interview at least 5 persons from each.
2. Write a report in about 6 pages
3. book – American Ethnicity: The Dynamics and Consequences of Discrimination 7th edition
ISBN:0078111587
ISBN-13:9780078111587
The purpose of this project is to verify the textbook information—the theory of discrimination, the contemporary status and stratification of ethnic groups, etc.—with the direct experiences and observations by your fellow Temple students. So, before talking to them, review the relevant chapters of the textbooks and form some key questions. These questions should be related to the main one: To what extent the textbooks and other readings explain the situations of your fellow students? If you find differences, offer your explanations. Also, as you’ll be dealing with students from two different ethnic groups, compare and contrast their experiences in your final report.
Interview is a part of the field work that sociologists do. You don’t have to worry about technicalities (about the selection of sample, representation, etc.) for now; but you might want to consider the following tips:
Don’t talk more than you have to. Listen carefully to the respondent’s comments.
Avoid leading questions that define the respondent’s answer, and avoid questions that point to “yes” or “no” answers.
Rather than asking why something happened, concentrate on asking how it occurred. “Why” questions often put people on the defensive, making them feel forced to justify their actions or lifestyle. By contrast,…