Reading Log #2 - Part 2

Reading Log, Nathan, Chap. 2
Summary:
The author describes her dorm room, residence hall, and its occupants in this chapter. Along with the descriptions of such items as door decorations and bulletin board flyers, she recounts "mandatory" meetings, encounters with hall mates, and the chaotic schedule being kept by most residents of her hall.

Themes emerging from Nathan's experiences in the dorm and the first weeks of classes include:

Differences in ways that time was spent -students appeared to be studying and socializing less than past studies indicate, while more time was spent working and volunteering.

The "over-optioned" public university system - options available to students, and how they chose to deal with those options, have two implications: 1. there is little that is automatically shared by people attending the same university and 2. despite the emphasis placed on creating community, the options given and differing lifestyles that ensue are barriers to campus community.

Reflection:
I begin to see some of the methodological problems with Nathan's study. She does not fit into the typical image of a traditional 18-22 year old student and does not share their need to prepare for a future in which clubs and volunteering are seen as essential. She is attempting to go undercover, but she cannot truly "pass" as a typical college student.

Further, Nathan gleans much of what she writes about through interviews with the other students. She can observe some of what is happening in their lives, but has to rely a great deal on the outcomes of these interviews. Her observations are necessarily colored by her own perspective, which is somewhat removed from the students' stage of life. She also brings with her a knowledge of the expected outcomes of university life - and while she acknowledges this bias, she has enough background to be looking for very specific things in relation to college life, rather than simply observing and reporting her findings. I realize this is part of what must happen anytime an outsider attempts to learn about a group of people, but I wonder if more of the background knowledge should come later rather than sooner. Is it better to go somewhat unprepared and then to compare findings to what is in the literature? Is that even possible in most cases?