Week 9

The most difficult part of my research has been to find opinions other than my own. Many of my sources agree with my point of view that the Special Olympics is a beneficial organization for those with disabilities. In my research process, I have found many sources that feel that this type of interaction encourages social, physical and emotional development. The easiest part of my research has been visiting my field site. I have enjoyed my observations at the meetings and have found it quite easy to go back every other week. As previously stated, I have also found it easy to obtain sources that agree and back up my point of view. If I could start all over again, I would take notes more diligently at my field site. When participating as a volunteer at the Special Olympics, I tend to become involved in my surroundings. This allows me little time to sit back, observe, and take notes. I would perhaps sit down for a little bit at each meeting and take notes so that I don't have to rely on my memory as much when writing about my field site. Keeping a blog has helped me in my research in an organizational sense. It is easier to have all my information in one place. It also helps me see how my research has not been individual, but ties together to help me create my final mini-ethnography. It also helps me pull from my previous writings to work on my current writings. Preparing for my mini-ethnography should be relatively easy because of maintaining my blog. My blog contains my feelings and past research. This makes it easier to record the whole duration of my experience at my field site. It also helps me make my mini-ethnography more accurate. Rather than relying on my memory for information, I have recorded it on my blog for reference.