Readings for Tuesday 6/2

Machin, Chapter 5

1.) Since every human is different, with different personalities and characteristics, would there ever be a way to study subjects and accurately relate conclusions to larger populations?

2.) When conducting a ethnographic study, the researcher's own perspectives and background can influence what they deem to be important and choose to include within their study. Doesn't it then make sense to make multiple different researchers conduct these studies to incorporate their varied views and conclusions into discussions?

3.) There never is a guarantee that respondents will truthfully answer questions or act genuinely in observed setting, but when comparing all methodologies, Ethnography in my opinion is most successful.

Seiter, Making Distinctions...

1.) I find it somewhat humorous when the researcher is discribing the men's answers about watching soap operas and them obviously fibbing on the issue, like how they say they rarely watch soaps yet they answered the advertisement inquiring to study soap opera viewers. Would anyone agree that in general the thought of embarrasment causes people to hide or lie because they fear to be socially unaccepted by their actions and behaviors?

2.) Seiter describes the interview as full of miscommunications, based of class distinctions, ranging from wide varieties of topics and subjects. Like we have been discussing in class, it is important to allow your subjects to lead the interview and feel comfortable to have an open discussion, but doesn't it also make sense to somewhat gear the conversation so it doesn't sway too far off subject?