COMM 490 Communication, Culture & Society

Graduate Group Project

INTERCULTURAL FIELD STUDY

Task

With the other graduate students, prepare a 20-minute presentation on a culture relatively new to the United States.

If there are enough graduate students to form more than one group of at least three, you can choose your group members.

Directions

This assignment will give you field research experience with a culture previously unfamiliar to you. You can select any group for the study that 1) meets the definition of culture used by the class, 2) is sufficiently different from your own culture so that your study is clearly intercultural, and 3), is reasonably accessible to the members of your research group.

Approach the field work as you would the task of learning about any other culture. Study the group’s cultural patterns codes, behaviors, roles, and relationships. Consider the following questions:

1. What are the beliefs, values, and norms of the culture?

2. What is the culture’s influence on the communication of its members?

3. How does the culture’s perception of events differ from your own?

4. Are there any special or unique uses of verbal codes?

5. What specific nonverbal behaviors are common to members of the culture?

6. Does the culture have any particular organizational patterns or persuasive styles?

7. Are social episodes and interpersonal relationships defined in a distinctive way?

Prepare a 20-minute presentation to describe the culture in detail, based on the above questions. Also include a discussion of the process your group used. Consider the following questions:

1. Did you find yourself evaluating behavior when describing would have been more helpful?

2. What were your stereotypes of the culture before you began the field study?

3. How did they influence your interactions?

4. Did the stereotypes change? How?

5. Did the members of the culture have stereotypes of you?

6. How did you make sense of what you saw in the culture?

7. Did you experience any symptoms of culture shock?

Every member of the group must participate in the presentation. You may use any artifacts, diagrams, objects, and so forth from your field study to illustrate the presentation. Any student who does not contribute actively will receive a lower grade.

Outcome

Your grade on the field work will be based on the presentation.