scholarly journals Chaos in the Clinic:Applications of Choas Theory to a Qualitative Study of a Veterinary Practice

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Craven Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Participant Observation ◽  
Sociological Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Site Analysis ◽  
Veterinary Practice ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Veterinary Technicians ◽  
And Gender

This paper is the result of a twelve hour participant observation study of a local, private veterinary practice in southeastern Pennsylvania. Field notes and semi-structured interviews, the result of naturally occurring conversation between me and practice members, were taken over a twelve week period, one hour of site visit each week. Using a grounded theory methodology, categories of social interaction among veterinarians, veterinary technicians, clerical staff, owners and animal clients were assembled, discarded and re-assembled. The resulting categories were analyzed using the conceptual framework of chaos theory and the principles of uncertainty. It appears that the most striking feature of the intra-site analysis centers around the chaotic notion of similarity of patterns or fractals, those patterns that repeat at smaller and smaller scales. In this micro-sociological analysis, these patterns or fractals are presented as behavior patterns within this veterinary practice. The analysis of the similarity of behavior is based on intra-practice comparative data of roles and status and gender. The triangulation of owner, veterinary worker and animal is a fascinating one; from a chaotic perspective it is a subject ripe with the possibilities of patterned order within disorder.

scholarly journals Multi-disciplinary team meetings in stroke rehabilitation: an observation study and conceptual framework

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 1237-1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
SF Tyson ◽  
L Burton ◽  
A McGovern
Keyword(s):  
Stroke Rehabilitation ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Team Meetings ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Multi Disciplinary Team

Objective: To explore how multi-disciplinary team meetings operate in stroke rehabilitation. Design: Non-participant observation of multi-disciplinary team meetings and semi-structured interviews with attending staff. Setting and participants: Twelve meetings were observed (at least one at each site) and 18 staff (one psychologist, one social worker; four nurses; four physiotherapists four occupational therapists, two speech and language therapists, one stroke co-ordinator and one stroke ward manager) were interviewed in eight in-patient stroke rehabilitation units. Results: Multi-disciplinary team meetings in stroke rehabilitation were complex, demanding and highly varied. A model emerged which identified the main inputs to influence conduct of the meetings were personal contributions of the members and structure and format of the meetings. These were mediated by the team climate and leadership skills of the chair. The desired outputs; clinical decisions and the attributes of apparently effective meetings were identified by the staff. A notable difference between the meetings that staff considered effective and those that were not, was their structure and format. Successful meetings tended to feature a set agenda, structured documentation; formal use of measurement tools; pre-meeting preparation and skilled chairing. These features were often absent in meetings perceived to be ineffective. Conclusions: The main features of operation of multi-disciplinary team meetings have been identified which will enable assessment tools and interventions to improve effectiveness to be developed.

scholarly journals ‘CEO equals man’: Gender and informal organisational practices in English sport governance

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 1009-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy V Piggott ◽  
Elizabeth CJ Pike
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equity ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Cultural Resources ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Specific Detail ◽  
Theory Of Practice ◽  
Organisational Values ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Alternative Practices

Despite the benefits of diversity amongst sport leaders increasingly being argued by both researchers and practitioners, English sport governance remains gender-imbalanced at all levels of leadership. Within this article, we aim to explore how informal organisational practices within two established English national governing bodies impact upon gender equity and gender balance within their governance. This is important to raise awareness of the power of informal organisational practices to favour one gender over another. We present findings generated through a multi-method qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Official documents from the two organisations were also drawn upon to add specific detail or fill information gaps during the collection, analysis and write-up of data. Throughout the article, we draw upon Bourdieu’s theory of practice to focus on the ways in which cultural resources, processes and institutions hold sport leaders within gendered hierarchies of dominance. We found that informal organisational practices contribute to the reinforcement of gendered structures of dominance which privilege (dominant) men and masculinity, and normalise and naturalise the positions of men as leaders. Some examples of resistance against inequitable informal practices were also evident. Drawing upon Bourdieu’s theorising, we highlight that alternative practices must be valued more highly by the organisation than current problematic practices in order for them to become legitimised, habitual and sustainable. We suggest that one way of achieving this is by linking gender-equitable governance to organisational values and performance to provide motivation for organisations to make genuine, sustainable change.

Intergenerational Dynamics in Teenage Alcohol use

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Hulvej Jørgensen ◽  
Tine Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Ethnographic Case Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Friendship Groups ◽  
Ethnographic Fieldwork ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
N 93 ◽  
And Control

Aim The paper examines teenage alcohol use from an intergenerational perspective through an ethnographic case study of interaction between teenagers and adults. Methods Two periods of ethnographic fieldwork were conducted in a rural Danish community of approximately 6000 inhabitants. The fieldwork included 50 days of participant observation among 13–16-year-olds (n=93) as well as semi-structured interviews with small self-selected friendship groups. The present paper presents an analysis of field notes from a night of participant observation that is used as an emblematic example of informants' alcohol use and their interaction with adults. Theoretically, the paper adopts French philosopher Michel de Certeau's conceptual framework for understanding the practice of everyday life, in particular his distinction between strategic and tactical action. Results Two scenarios are described and taken to represent two different adult approaches to teenage drinking. In Scenario I, adults accept a group of teenagers' drinking in the home, and in Scenario II adults create an alcohol-free space which they guard against the intrusion of intoxicated teenagers. In both cases, however, adults use their intergenerational position in order to strategically contain teenage drinking. Meanwhile, teenagers act tactically by adjusting their alcohol use in time and space. Further, the use of alcohol marks a shift in the interaction between adults and teenagers in so far as it enables teenagers to create and control a place of their own and hence signal their independence from adults. Conclusion The paper points to the creative, tactical agency of teenagers in response to adult strategies. It is illustrated how teenage alcohol use becomes a transformative factor for adult–teenager relationships, and in particular how teenagers rework intergenerational power differences by taking on drinking.

Do we form or deform? Qualitative Investigation in Public Hospitals of Madrid

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Jesús Gómez Camuñas ◽  
Purificación González Villanueva
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Information Collection ◽  
Qualitative Investigation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ethnographic Approach ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Depth Interviews

<div><br></div><div> <p><i>Qualitative design</i> with an <b>ethnographic approach</b>, to achieve the objective of the study.</p> <p><i>Data collection</i></p> <p>The data has been collected through these information collection techniques:</p> <p><b>Participant observation</b> consisting of analysis of documents, interviews with subjects and informants, participation in the field, direct observation and introspection <sup>13</sup>; registering systematically in a journal, together with the field notes.</p> <p><b>In-depth interviews</b> are carried out, through two techniques:</p> <p>Unstructured interviews with open questions.</p> <p>Semi-structured interviews through a Guide of questions, extracted from previous observation sessions or interviews.</p> <p>These interviews are, in turn, <u>formal</u> and <u>informal</u>, conducted individually or in groups <sup>13</sup>:</p> <p>In the formal ones, the participants are asked to sign the informed consent in order to be recorded and their consent after the transcription of the same.</p> <p>Informal interviews are carried out during the entire period of stay in the unit or center, to any participant who voluntarily chooses to talk with the researcher, having prior knowledge of the realization of the same and study information.</p> </div>

Succumbing, surviving, succeeding? Women managers in academia

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 397-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Marcia Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
Women Managers ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Senior Women ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
To Come

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address an under-explored and under-theorised aspect of gender work in UK academia in that it looks at the professional lives of middle and senior women managers and leaders who are responsible for initial teacher training in their institutions. As Maguire (2002) and Murray (2002, 2006) point out, within academia, teacher trainers occupy a particularly under-researched space despite some recent interest (Korthagen and Vasalos, 2005; Thompson, 2007). Design/methodology/approach – This research draws on a larger study which explored how 22 middle and senior managers and leaders in ten institutions in England try to come to terms with carrying out their roles in the education marketplace. In-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out with these women and data were also collected from field notes from participant observation undertaken at three of the institutions. Findings – Whereas some women are moving into positions of authority in the education marketplace, some existing women managers are being marginalised within new internally differentiated layers of managerial structures. Simultaneously, many women who manage teacher training are engaged in a struggle for survival individually and professionally. Those who succeed have managed to re-invent themselves to endorse neo-liberal discourses. Originality/value – Original empirical research which sheds new light on previous discourses related to women managers in neo-liberal academia.

scholarly journals A Critical Ethnography of Myanmar Migrants’ Grassroots Multilingualism at a Chinese Massage Parlour

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Zhijuan Ni
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Critical Ethnography ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Language Management ◽  
Local Society ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Language Policy Theory

While China is broadening its gateway into South Asia and Southeast Asia, millions of foreign migrant workers cross the border and seek their transnational fortune in China&rsquo;s border provinces. However, within the existing literature in migrant workers in China, language is rarely a research target in itself. As one of the important social actors language plays a key role shaping migrant workers&rsquo; life trajectories. Adopting Spolsky&rsquo;s language policy theory and following the critical ethnography with migrant workers (Han, 2013; Mathews, 2011), this study explores the interplay of national polices of massage parlour management at a macro level, employers&rsquo; stipulations of managing Myanmar migrants at a meso level and Myanmar migrants&rsquo; language practices at micro level. Grounded upon critical sociolinguistic ethnography, data is collected from a China&rsquo;s massage parlour at border town through the participant observation in and out of massage parlour, field notes, semi-structured interviews and documents. The study probes into how Chinese geopolitics of the wider process of regional development facilitates or constrains Myanmar migrants, how they mobilize social resources to expand their multilingual repertoires and how Chinese employer manages Myanmar migrants in language and life aspects. Findings reveal that there is no specific language policy at the recruitment stage. However, when Myanmar migrant workers start to work, language emerges as implicit but powerful medium streaming the likelihood of upward mobility. Other social factors, such as gender, nationality, religion and class also influence their mobility and integration into China&rsquo;s local society. The study expands the understanding of language management and grassroots multilingualism in the context of globalization from below. Also the study provides implications on language policy making, migrants integration and education for migrants of multilingual backgrounds.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Self-Care Experiences of Aging Individuals Living Independently: A Focused Ethnography in the Community Setting

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Phatchanun Vivarakanon
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Community Setting ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Focused Ethnography ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Healthy Behaviors ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Health And Well Being

Globally, aging individuals who live independently facing various problems in maintaining their health and well-being. Understanding the capability of personal well-being is an important consideration in promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles in aging individuals. This paper aimed to more deeply explore, from self-care experiences of aging individuals living independently in the community, from their perspective. The study used the inductive approach of focused ethnography which is based on Orem&rsquo;s Theory of Self-Care. Data collection consisted of participant observation with field notes and semi-structured interviews with 25 aging individuals living independently in the northern part of Thailand. Three themes were followed as protocol of the data collection plan and used the identification and classification of transcription, coding, and thematic analysis as perspectives of self-care experiences of aging individuals living independently in the community setting: 1) continuing habits of healthcare practices, 2) maintaining positive emotional adaptation, 3) and having reasonable social and life adjustments. These themes exemplified the practice of activities that aging individuals initiated and performed as their daily and routine activities with the intention of maintaining life health and well-being. Consideration of aging individuals living independently self-care experiences assisted nurses and provided greater perspectives in providing actual needs and reduced resources of nursing care and healthcare system.

scholarly journals George Orwell’s Ethnographies of Experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-25
Author(s):  
Michael Amundsen
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
George Orwell ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Road ◽  
Marginal Groups ◽  
Personal Investment ◽  
Field Notes

George Orwell is most widely known as the teller of dystopian tales of oppression. A closer look at his oeuvre reveals a courageous truth seeker who frequently lived and worked with his literary subjects. In his fieldwork he used the methods of classic ethnography including participant observation, semi-structured interviews and field notes. This article argues that Orwell was an ethnographer in his research methods and that both Down and Out in Paris and London and The Road to Wigan Pier are ethnographic texts with valuable insights into marginal groups in the early to mid-twentieth century in Europe. The writer’s clear-sighted and humane depiction of ‘otherness’ shows his skill as an ethnographer. His personal investment with his subject matter, reflexivity and attention to broader social and political phenomena in his narratives mark Orwell as an autoethnographer.

Symbolic Capital and Gender: Evidence from Two Cultural Fields

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana L. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Symbolic Capital ◽  
Field Structure ◽  
Symbolic Boundaries ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Symbolic Boundary

This article builds a gendered understanding of Bourdieu’s concept of symbolic capital. Through a comparison of two cultural fields – the heavy metal scene and the contemporary folk scene in Toronto, Canada – I show that field structure impacts the extent to which gendered dispositions (which we can understand as masculine capital and feminine capital) are exchangeable for symbolic capital, or reputation. Using semi-structured interviews, discourse analysis, and participant observation, I highlight two features of the fields that shape the extent to which masculine and feminine capital produce symbolic capital: the degree to which symbolic capital is institutionalized, and the level of symbolic boundary-drawing in the field. The heavy metal field’s low institutionalization of symbolic capital and high symbolic boundaries heighten the salience of gender as a basis of symbolic capital, while the folk field’s high institutionalization of symbolic capital and low symbolic boundary-drawing reduce the extent to which gender matters.

Acting Their Age? An Intersectional Approach on Young Motherhood From Young Mothers’ Perspectives

Affilia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-484
Author(s):  
Marijke Sniekers ◽  
Els Rommes
Keyword(s):  
Single Mothers ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Young Mothers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Categories ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Working Parents ◽  
Child Centered ◽  
And Gender

This article challenges the assumptions in social policy and practice of how the combination of youth and motherhood is problematic and morally wrong. Using an intersectional approach, this study uncovers how young mothers’ social categories of youth and motherhood collide, concur with, or reinforce each other. The research question is the following: What are young mothers’ perceptions and practices of youth when combining youth with motherhood? The research methods include 18 months of participant observation and 41 semi-structured interviews with young mothers in the Netherlands. Analysis shows that young motherhood should not be conflated with problematic motherhood. Young mothers position themselves as “new” parents, single mothers, and working parents. Their motherhood practices illustrate adherence to an ideology of child-centered, omnipresent, and responsible motherhood. They might not be good girls, but they show they are good mothers. Young mothers navigate intersecting dimensions of youth, age, motherhood, and gender through (1) discontinuing youth practices, (2) alternating between motherhood and youthfulness, (3) transforming youth practices into young motherhood practices, and (4) reinforcing youth through young motherhood. Professionals can use the strengths of these practices more to the advantage of the youth to provide support that is tailored to clients’ needs.

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