When I look back to the beginning of the summer, I know that I have definitely progressed in regards to my learning goals. Most of my goals have to do with gaining skills as a sociologist in the “real world.” I have studied sociology in school, but most of my studies have been more theoretical. Before starting my work this summer, I set a goal for myself to better understand how professionals conduct studies. So far, I’ve learned a bit more about the (tedious) process of gaining IRB, how to write surveys, how to actually gather the data and what notes to take. I found writing the survey particularly interesting. I think I mentioned this in a previous post, but prior to actually writing the survey, we read various journal articles that related to our topic in order to figure out the best way to approach our project. I also didn’t really realize how important it is to keep in mind who will actually take the survey. While something might make sense to us as researchers, those taking the survey have most likely heard nothing about the research and would have a completely different perspective. In some ways, I think that some of the most beneficial “data” we gathered was a general understanding of the environment and people that lived in the area. I also have definitely progressed on my final goal: “Gain a broader understanding of my surround environment as a resident of Louisiana.” Just from the drive to Jennings alone, I got to see the landscape surrounding New Orleans. Upon arriving, I also witnessed a very different way of life. In one interview, a woman said that she loves where she lives because she values the sense of community in her neighborhood. She said that neighbors help each other out without question. I’m sure this neighborly friendship is present in New Orleans, but in a different way. I’ve always known that small towns tend to be more focused on the community, but there was something nice about actually witnessing it myself.
A lot of what I’ve learned so far will be directly transferrable to my work as a sociology student. The classes I’ll take next year focus on research design and analysis, and I’m getting a taste for that now. Like I mentioned above, I’m learning the basics behind sociological research, and this will definitely help me in school.