Landis Green seems to be the heart of old campus at FSU. It is simultaneously a thoroughfare for students and employees, those wishing to interact with familiar or unfamiliar others, or those wishing to find some solitude. I found a spot to sit on a small brick structure located on the southeast corner of the green. Upon my initial approach I found a group of friends sitting on a bench near the centrally located fountain on the green talking to each other. I could not decipher what was being said, but the interactants were enjoying themselves, laughing at a joke one of them had said. Across the fountain a female student was laying on a bench reading a book. A little further away another female student was sitting in a hammock slung to a tree listening to music and reading a book. In an open area of the green a group of dog owners were interacting with each other and playing with each other’s dogs. It was unclear whether the owners knew each other, but I would guess that the male owners were friends and the female owners were friends. There seemed to be some potential romantic interest between owners. The males were flirting with the females, showing interest in the small dogs the females brought with them. Those who were walking through the green, either by themselves or in pairs or small groups, did not seem to be in any hurry; it was a simple leisurely stroll through the green to pass time between classes. On the surface, Landis Green seems to be a simple thoroughfare through campus, but a closer look reveals a socializing function of the space as well as provides solitude for those desiring some down time from class.
The biggest takeaway I got from this experience is that I need to be much more detail oriented about the group or area I’m observing. In order to provide more details in my notes, I need to take more time closely observing the people, and take note of clothes and other accessories, which can allow me to make inferences about the activities in which the people are engaging. As I wrote my narrative, my lack of details became more apparent. I was unable to recall what anyone was wearing, which did not allow me to make inferences about their activities on that day. This lack of detail also hindered my ability to create a vivid picture of the people on the green in my narrative.
After reading my partners’ narratives, this idea of detail orientation was strongly reinforced. Both of my partners included tremendous amounts of detail in their descriptions, which greatly aided my ability to create a clear picture of their observations in my head. The questions my partners asked about my narrative were even focused on providing more details about my observation. However, because I did not take extremely detailed notes, I had trouble answering their questions.
I also need to be more aware of where I situate myself in relation to the people I’m observing. In an effort to remain unseen, I chose a spot far away from anybody. However, because of this, I also could not hear any of the conversations that were taking place. Having the ability to know what people are talking about can provide many clues as to why a person or group of people are in a place at a specific time. Knowing the content and context of a conversation will also provide more details to help create a better picture in the mind of the reader.
Overall, I think I had a decent first effort at producing an ethnographic observation. Now, however, I know some areas that need to be improved if I am to continue using this method of scientific inquiry.