What is the purpose of this research?
The purpose of this assignment is to explore what it means to do sociology. Students will focus in on food, as it intersects with at least one core theme/area of sociology, and carry out some original research (e.g. ‘field work’ or maybe an in-depth review of existing research).
What kinds of topics can I choose to work with?
There are many possibilities for topics. As long as something fits with a sociological perspective, it is fair game. Be careful though. This is not an anthropology or psychology course. Be sure you take the time to consider a clearly sociological lens when devising your topic. Possible broad topic areas could be culture and food, work and food, stratification and food, gendered relations and food. Note that these are broad topic areas and your goal would be to narrow your focus to a particular sub-theme or issue. For example, emotional labour, gender norms, and the restaurant industry. For example, food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, competition reality tv food shows and the dark days of global capitalism. For example, social media activism and the Indian farmer’s strike.
What kind of research will I carry out?
Regardless of the topic you choose, you will carry out research as part of your topic. It may be that you carry out some research by getting out in the field. For example, dining at three different kinds of food establishments and comparing the different ways they meet class expectations for food service. For example, visiting community gardens in your neighbourhood and learning more about food security initiatives where you live. But it may be that your topic is more complex and you can only access data about it indirectly. In this case, you might find academic research articles related to your topic and summarize findings across articles. For example, an overview of main research findings about childhood poverty, and food insecurity in Canadian society.
MAIN PAPER – I chose the topic Rice in Filipino Culture & Sociology
I would perhaps consider working with rice and draw from your own experience. For your ‘research’, you can write a story discussing the changes you have noticed (living in a country which rice is always included in meals and migrating to Western country in which they dont always eat rice). This will allow you to identify your own experience as a starting point. Try to think about why you eat rice? There are probably many factors that influence this, from your daily life (family and friends), but also the wider culture. It also sounds like it intersects with identity.
FORMAT:
– a title
– a brief introduction to the topic and make the connection to sociology – definitions of key terms / concepts
– discussion of methods (how you came to your conclusions)
– presentation of results
– key findings
– implications for real life
– conclusions and suggestions for future research
– Accompanied by a short write-up (approximately 1 page double-spaced): summarizing the research you carried out, reasons you chose this topic and how it relates to sociology, an overview of some of the ways the project impacted how you saw food and identify key take-aways from the project (an informal writing style for the write-up is just fine.)
– I attached our course materials in here because we are required to draw on at least 5 sources in total (there must be three course readings and at least two scholarly sources). Please choose 3 materials that can relate to the topic and find 2 scholarly sources.
– You are permitted to use “I”.
– Use APA citation style and provide a properly formatted List of References/Bibliography.
