Welcome to the VE for Spring 2021
This Virtual Exchange between UT Dallas honors students enrolled in a sociology class on deviant behavior and Universite de Bordeaux students enrolled in an English class for sociology majors will involve a field research project on the current coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, students will be doing an observational study on deviant behavior related to mask-wearing, social distancing and other public health measures in both the United States and France. The final product will be a web page documenting the research findings.
Sociologists define deviant behavior as an action that violates social norms. In some cases that behavior can involve the violation of a law, while in other instances it is an action that generates mild public disapproval. When it comes to public health guidelines designed to stop the spread of COVID-19, governments are taking a variety of approaches. In some jurisdictions, masks are obligatory while in others they are only recommended. Similarly, social distancing measures are not always enforced by law.
While practicing social distancing of their own, students involved in this Virtual Exchange will be doing an observational study on public behavior related to social distancing and other public health measures. Students will work together in determining what constitutes deviance in their particular city. Is it deviant to wear a mask or deviant not to wear one? It depends. Like beauty, deviance is in the eye of the beholder. Watch the video below to find out more about this project.
Project Timeline
Week 1 ( Feb 5 17h00 CET / 10 am CST ) Introductory Zoom Call
We will meet with our international partners to launch our exchange. Bordeaux students and Laüra Hoskins will join UT Dallas students and Dr. Lanham for a Zoom call where we will go over the details of the Pandemic Project and also get to know one another. Be prepared to answer the following questions: 1) My name is.. 2) In my spare time I like to....3) I really don't like....4) I would love to.....
Example: "My name is Laüra. In my spare time I like to sew and make linoprints. I really don't like it when it rains in the morning and I'm on my bike."
Week 2 (8-14 Feb.): Video Ice Breaker
Record a slideshow with voiceover in Adobe Spark, similar to the tutorial video below. You will need to create a free account. Or you can upload a video to Adobe Spark from your YouTube or Vimeo account. Introduce yourself to members your group using your own photos or photos from the free database in Adobe Spark. Share a photo of one thing that is meaningful to you. When your video is ready, share it with all members of the Pandemic Project via this Padlet. Due the 14 of February, 2021
Week 3 (22 Feb - 8 March): Getting to know each other
Arrange to meet with your VE partners for the first time by videoconferencing (Zoom, Skype etc.). Get to know each other. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- What is your major?
- What classes are you taking this semester?
- What do you like best about college?
- What do you like least?
- What about student life?
Meet before Monday, the 8th of March, 2021.
Week 4 (8 - 14 March) Developing an observation grid for field research
Jointly develop an observation grid - Using a Google doc and video conferencing, work together to develop an observation grid listing the deviant action that you expect to observe. Examples might include mask wearing (or lack thereof), hand shaking, kissing, hugging etc. You will also want to have columns for gender and age (child/young adult/older adult/elderly for example). Due the 14 of March, 2021.
Here is a sample grid that you can use as a starting point. Add categories to make it your own and test it out in the field. Does it include all the types of deviant behavior you are observing? Should some categories be eliminated? Revise the observation grid after your first field visit if necessary.
Weeks 5 and 6 (15-28 March): Field research
Do three hours of field research - Each group member is expected to do three hours of field observation; one hour on three separate occasions. Start by choosing a public place where you are likely to see a lot of people. Discuss your choice with your professor or classmates. Is this location likely to provide you with meaningful results? For example, if masks are required to be worn outside, you may want to observe in a popular area outdoors. If masks are not required to be worn outdoors, choose a location where you can safely observe people as they are entering or exiting an indoor space where masks are required.
Write the date, time and location of your field study on each observation grid, and make note of the number of people engaging in the type of deviant behavior listed on your chart. Once you've completed each observation, convert your actual numbers into percentages. and then post a summary grid to the Google doc.
Field Notes - Take notes when you are out in the field. These should be informal and describe your environment and general trends. Post these notes to the Google doc as well under your summary grid. Due 28 of March, 2021
Weeks 7 and 8 (29 March - 11 April): Discussing Patterns of Deviance and Writing Up Findings
Set up a virtual meeting with your group so you can discuss patterns of deviance that you were able to discern during your field work. In other words, discuss the data posted in your summary grids and described it in your field notes and reach conclusions. For example, what differences or similarities did you observe between the two countries in what constitutes deviant behavior? Were men or women more likely to engage in deviant behavior? Did you notice patterns related to age? Write up your field notes as a narrative and publish your group's Adobe Spark site. Share the link to your final Spark site on our Padlet. Due 11 of April, 2021
Week 9 (12-18 April): Reflecting and Saying Goodbye
Individually, make a final Spark video to look back on this exchange and say goodbye to your Pandemic Project friends. Share with the others your personal perspectives on this exchange project. Why did you opt into this exchange? How would you evaluate the experience today? What have you taken away from it? What were the challenges and how did you overcome them? How did this experience differ from learning experiences you have had at University so far? What would you say to students thinking about taking part in a project like this one? Anything else you would like to add? Share your video on our Padlet. Due the 18 of April, 2021.