RU Youth and Work Research Project

For this project you will conduct multiple observations of young workers in different service/retail industry establishments and compare what you see to Besen-Cassino, Tannock and Hirschman’s description of young workers in such establishments.  

Step 1: Complete ALL of the readings:

Esterberg_Qual Methods-1-1.pdf 

Step 2: Prepare a list of expectations (with citations to the readings) and include as an appendix to your Report. 

Before you actually go to the place(s), do your background research — Make a list of what you expect to see  at these establishments based on the readings (e.g. Besen-Cassino, Tannock, and Hirschman).

I will know if you did not do this before you did your observations and then try to write the expectations up afterwards — you must do this step before.

Include this list with your report write-up to show that you did it before you actually made your observations!

You should reference why you have a particular expectation.  That is, you should provide a reference to one of the readings that makes you think a particular thing will happen.  You can do this simply by just doing a short cite (e.g.  Besen-Cassino, p. __) or (Tannock p. ___)  etc.   

This should actually help you when writing up your report – because you need to be making comparisons of what you expected from the readings and what you actually found and then analyze why they were the same or different.  It is ok to make this a numbered/bulleted list of expectations. 

Step 3: Conduct your observations and Write up Field Notes and include as an Appendix to your Report 

This is part of your grade and you will be marked down if you do not send these notes to me as part of your report.

You should make observations and write up field notes for each of the different establishments you choose for at least 20 minutes per establishment.  You are just to observe NOT interview any of the workers or customers.

You must pick AT LEAST three (3) establishments to observe in, based on the descriptions in the readings. You should try to pick stores that are similar to the ones described in the readings (such as Starbucks, Hollister, Gap, Abercrombie and Fitch, grocery stores, McDonalds, or Mom & Pop shops, etc. Any stores younger workers are likely to work at are fine).  You will turn in these notes with your write up. 

While you are making your observations, TAKE FIELD NOTES.  You may want to observe in the each store and then find a place to sit and write up your field notes or if comfortable hand write or type of your notes.

 Field notes should include the date and time of the observation; along with every detail you can record about what you see.   You should  include this as an appendix to your report as well. 

If you have hand written your observations you can take a picture (scan) of the notes and upload them onto canvas as a separate document.   

You should be sure to collect data on the following.   But DO NOT limit your observations to only answering these questions.  Read the Esterberg document for details on how you should be taking field notes:

The Workers: For example:

How many people are working?

Who is working where?

What are the demographics of the workforce (approximate age, gender, race)?

What are their uniforms/dress like?

Are they smiling and what do they look like? Is there any evidence of emotion work?

The Work: For example:

Does it look like they have fun?

What work practices did you observe?

Does there seem to be socializing/friendships?

What is the nature of the work?

What is the condition of the store (clean, dirty, etc.)?

Did you observe any hiring signs

The Store Atmosphere: For example:

What store are you in?

What does the store look like?

What music is playing?

What is the ¥el/f the store?

What customers does the store cater to?  How is that displayed? (i.e. how do you know the customers it caters to?)

What product is being sold?

What type of customers came in the store (age, gender, race, etc.)?

How do customers behave?

How do the customers and workers interact?

Step 4: Prepare a Written Comparative Analysis Report

Write up a Comparative Analysis of your observations in relation to Besen-Cassino,  Tannock, and Hirschman’s descriptions of retail/service workers–again these readings are in the modules.  

(This is where the notes you put together in Step 2 and 3 become very important). 

This is a research report.  Accordingly you should have:

An introduction to explain why you are doing the research and an overall thesis of what you expect to find. 

Body paragraphs of the results of your research

A comparative analysis of what you found to the research conducted by the authors in our readings

A concluding paragraph

DON’T JUST WRITE UP YOUR OBSERVATIONS – this is a comparative analysis and you are expected to compare and analyze– not only what did you see, but whether it was the same or different and WHY you believe things were the same or different. For example:

Did you see what you expected to see based on the readings?

What didn you see, or what did you see that surprised you?

Did your stores seem like the best work experiences for teens? Why or Why not?