As I studied for the Spring Semester that will begin on January 13th, 2014, I read Ivana Nikolic’s “House for the Homeless: A place to Hang Your Hat” on the textbook, Field Working: Reading and Writing Research. I was fascinated with Ivana’s story seen from insiders and outsider’s perspectives. I related to her attitude that may seem tough towards people, that people choose to be who they are (Stone 2012)
I will also be taking Applied Social Psychology course. In its textbook, Social Psychology as science was described as follows:
- Accuracy: precise, error-free measurement and collection of information (i.e., data)
- Objectivity: minimization of bias in data collection
- Skepticism: refusing to believe findings and conclusions without rigorous
- Open-mindedness: readiness to accept as valid evidence that may be inconsistent with ones initial, and perhaps strongly held, beliefs or theories
- Ethics: acceptance of the absolute importance of ethical behavior in conducting research (Schneider 2012)
While I enjoy the process of field working and writing about the findings, often I am left with sense of despair. Things seem too complicated or too big to change. But seeing things from scientific perspective give me hope. We can gain understanding little by little. And we CAN change and evolve if we take time and be persistent.
Workplace change for one. Seafood sustainability for another.
Source:
Stone Sunstein, Bonnie, Chiseri-Strater, Elizabeth (eds). (2012). Field Working: Reading and Writing Research. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Schneider, Frank W., Gruman, Jamie A., Coutts, Larry M. (eds). (2012). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
FUJIKO SUDA 