EXAMPLE. Social interactions in public transport during the cold season (ethnographic
observation).
Field report based on notes taken on February 20, 2016 at 11 a.m.
Observation 1. Route 92. The starting point is Mametova Nauryzbai batyr st. The end point
is Bogenbai batyr Nauryzbai batyr st. Travel time is 5-7 minutes. The temperature outside is about 1. The time is about 11 hours. Bus number 92. I got on the bus, it is not full. There are about 25
people in it. I drew attention to the high temperature for myself in the cabin (about 20-25 degrees).
The stoves were working on the bus, which could be determined by the heat and sound that came
from them. The location of the stoves in the cabin is shown in Fig. one.
Door
1
4
2
5
Door
3
6
7
The passengers did not express their dissatisfaction or desire to change the situation, they did not
open the windows, did not ask the driver or the controller to turn off the stoves. A visible expression
of their temperature inconvenience was the unbuttoning of their outerwear. It was especially hot in
the back of the bus. This confirmed that people here looked more lethargic, and 4 people were
sitting with their eyes closed.
Observation 2. The situation was repeated, it was similar.
Observation 3. The situation was repeated, it was similar.
Observation 4. The situation was repeated, it was similar.
Observation 5. The situation was repeated, it was similar.
Analytical notes. Why didn't the passengers try to improve the temperature conditions by changing
the environment (opening windows or contacting the driver)? Is it more comfortable for them to
drive at a rather high temperature in the cabin during the cold season? If not, then perhaps the
passengers did not realize that the reason for their discomfort is the temperature, namely, the work
of the stoves? Why controller, which sense the temperature in the cabin better than the driver, did
not ask to turn off the stoves? Is this due to the fact that it is more comfortable for him to ride at a
rather high temperature? At the same time, it seems obvious that if the operation of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
stoves affects the comfort of the driver and controller (who spend many hours in the cold), then 6
and 7 have almost no effect. Will the stoves work when the bus is more full? Will the stoves work at
a lower temperature outside while people dress more warmly?
INSTRUCTION.
1. You need to choose a place that you know well (bazaar, public transport, mall, neigborhood, etc.).
2. It is necessary to describe some repetitive typical social interaction. To prove that the situation is
typical, long-term observation is necessary (therefore, you need to take a place that you know well).
You can count the number of cases for a certain point in time or repeat the observation several
times.
3. Describing a situation and writing a report, it is necessary to separate description and analysis.
The description does not need to make value judgments. The description should be neutral and
friendly. As you can see, the report consists of two parts - description (in black) and analysis (in
red).
4. Always remember ethics. Don't meddle in personal spaces. Only describe what can be seen in
public places.