Read Frank Ch 1: An Ethnographic Perspective (in Course Materials), which focuses on the
difference between “notetaking” and “notemaking” in observation.
• Conduct a 20 minute observation anywhere – i.e., in a park, a coffee shop, a library, your
home, a supermarket, etc…. You can observe anyone/anything you find interesting!
“Notetaking” is similar to what Casper & Theilheimer discuss as “Describing”, or writing down
“the facts”, notes that are objective and are descriptive of what you see/hear, etc…
“Notemaking” is similar to what the authors discuss as “Deciding” – here is where your
analysis comes in, your perspective that is informed by various factors such as your experiences,
research you have conducted, and the lens(es) through which you see the world.
• Begin with your “notetaking” process (you can fold a notebook paper in half, with one side for
notetaking and the other for notemaking, so you can see your notes and your subsequent
analysis side by side).
• Notetaking: Remember the following during this phase of your observation: your directly
observed occurrences should be clearly and concisely written in a nonjudgmental manner.
This is a factual account of the observed time frame, answering the who, what, where, when
and how. A well-written anecdotal observation will provide the reader with a clear picture of
what exactly transpired much like a video recording the reader will be able to “see” and “hear”
exactly what was said and done. There is NO interpretation or subjective words used within an
anecdotal observation.
• Notemaking: Here is where your analysis of the observed time period/event comes in.
Reflect upon what you saw – what was happening from your perspective? What are some
conclusions you have drawn about your observation, including questions that were raised. •
Finally, reflect upon what you thought about the process. How did you find this exercise?
What, if anything, was easy or difficult?
*Note: Your paper should be approx 2 page long and should include a summary of your
observation (you can include an excerpt or two from your actual notes), your analysicixs, and your
reflection on the process
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