Second Life : Field Research

Prospectus and Final Map Render

2009-01-19T18:34:00.000-08:00

Abstract
The purpose of this prospectus is to give an overview of my field research plans in Second Life. My main focus will be on the Rastafarian culture. I will be showing how the advancements in technology, specifically the use of Second Life, allows people from all around the world to connect and share in their interests. This prospectus will explain the Second Life software, what I plan to do with it, and the pros and cons of using Second Life to perform field research.
Introduction
Just as the name Second Life suggests, people in this virtual world are acting out another life. The first step would be to create your avatar. The avatar is the physical presence of you in-world. You are able to create, shape, and dress your character into any imaginable form. Short and fat or skinny and tall, you are the sculptor. You are then able to dress them with a wide array of clothing, costumes, and accessories. For some the these items you will need Second Life’s form of currency, Lindens. Once you acquire some Linden, you can then purchase land, automobiles, houses, etc. to show your status. After you have established yourself, you are able to search through endless groups and communities until you pinpoint one that best suits you. These communities and groups hold special events from time to time that allow you to interact with others who have common interests. These include, but are not limited to: dancing, live music, games, and special sales.
Method
I will be studying the Rastafarian religion and cultures in Second Life by observing their communities, specifically "xxxxxxxxx". I will focus primarily on the customs related to this culture and how they are brought into and carried out through Second Life. The Rastafarians are a very small portion of all of the communities Second Life has to offer, but through observing them, I will get a general overview of how the rest of these communities of practice operate and conduct daily activities. Will Second Life be an effective tool or place for communities to congregate?
According to socialresearch.net, “Field research can also be considered either a broad approach to qualitative research or a method of gathering qualitative data. the essential idea is that the researcher goes "into the field" to observe the phenomenon in its natural state or in situ. As such, it is probably most related to the method of participant observation. The field researcher typically takes extensive field notes which are subsequently coded and analyzed in a variety of ways.” I will be adapting these techniques to the virtual world of Second Life. I plan to attend as many events as possible or observe at high traffic times. By witnessing these events, you will be able to see if the "xxxxxxx" group practices any Rastafarian customs and how they
Security precautions need to be taken into account as well. Permission must be granted from everyone in the community in order to make observations legally. I will be writing up specific agreements based on the role of the avatar in the community. These must be signed, dated, and returned in order to perform any observations or note taking. My notes will also be revised so that no distinct avatar or location will be distinguishable in-world. Avatars will be replaced with representational, fictional names.
I will be examining "xxxxxxxxx" at times of high population and times of less population. I feel this is the best way to conduct observations, because the two can be compared and you will see if certain functions only happen when many group members convene. Most examinations will be conducted between 2:00 p.m. Second Life time and 6:00 p.m. Second Life time, only because this is ordinarily the time slot when events are held here. The research should be split into four parts. The first section would be allotted for fieldwork and note taking in Second Life. The second would be designated to the breaking down of information into categories for review. For the third, we will go back to the community of study and observe once again. This makes for the most productive research. Finally, for the fourth section, we will go over all of the combined observations and reach a conclusion or inference. The actual observing will take less time than the data processing, therefore, more time should be set aside for evaluating facts and figures. Any literature related to cultures, customs, and religions would be advantageous while processing and comparing data, especially those relating to Rastafarians.
Limitations
However, there appear to be a few limitations to this study. If members of the group deny the permissions, I will be unable to observe and record their actions. If I am lacking recorded observations, it will be difficult to elaborate on and compare the data. Something I have noticed that could be a potential setback, is the lack of thorough answers to questions. I have received vague, short answers to my questioning thus far. This could be due to the members not having the answers to my questions or not being able to put them into words. A percentage of the population speak a foreign language and use a translator which converts their text into English. Things can be lost in translation. Communicating with those who speak a foreign language will be exceptionally challenging and inconsistent at best. Another issue that will be a hard workaround, is the real life location of members. If group members are sporadically located around the world, it will be tough to find common meeting times to observe. The last thing I find to be a limitation, is the lack of variety. If the group only meets to dance or the events are unchanging, the observations will feel monotonous and the answers to the questions I have about this community will be inferior.
Discussion
The completed research should answer the ambiguity people have about online communities and Rastafarians. As technology advances, communicating and coming together with people around the world becomes less of a fantasy and more of a reality. Second Life should make this process less complicated and very beneficial. People may feel more comfortable opening up and expressing themselves with the mask of an avatar. The avatar allows for a lower amount of discrimination and makes it easier to be a part of unfamiliar communities. There is an absence of information about communities of practice in a virtual world. This fieldwork specifically focuses on the Rastafarians and hopes to answer some of these uncertainties.

Practice Observations and Note taking

2009-01-17T18:05:00.000-08:00

I conducted my practice observation January 17, 2009 towards the end of a
"REZ day" (avatar birthday) of one of the group members.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: The event took place on the island I am studying and the general area
was the dance floor.

Arrived at 4:56 slt
Positioned myself at the right edge of the dance floor
Immediately greeted by "#1" and "#2"
4:57 slt No members teleporting to island
Reggae music streaming with calm atmosphere
4:59 slt "#2" offers to animate my avatar to dance
4:59 slt members only slow dancing
members congregating only at/near dance floor
no movement around island
5:01 slt "#1" and "#2" discussing RL topics
5:02 slt local chat displays foreign language
5:03 slt "#1", "#2", and "#4" exchange good-byes
5:04 slt all dancing comes to a stop
5:04 slt "#2" and "#3" spam the local chat and make noise
5:06 slt I moved to left side of dance floor and sat in beanbag
5:07 slt "#2" leaves dance floor
5:07 slt tip jar automatic logout
music still playing with no dancers
most members logged off
5:10 slt moved to "smoking lounge"
5:11 slt "#2" and "#3" sit on couch together
I sit on pillow near couch
5:12 slt "#2" strikes conversation with me and "#3"
5:12 slt "#2" explains teleportation problems during event
5:15 slt "#2" and "#3" still conversing
5:25 slt "#2" and "#3" logout
5:25 slt I leave area

Observational Notes:

People/Locations
----------------
Everyone on the island was congregating only at the dance floor.
The rest of the island was unpopulated.
No one left the dance floor while the event was taking place.
Once the event was over, the people that stuck around made their way to the smoking lounge.

Layout/Scenery
--------------
sploder
DJ booth
tip jar
12 dance orbs
Red, Yellow, and Green dance floor (classic Rasta colors)
speaker cabinets
marijuana plants

Attire
------
The majority of the members were not wearing typical Rasta/Reggae outfits.
The girls wore skirts with small tops and had wild, flowing hair.
The males wore jeans and tshirts with their hair done in dreadlocks.
Some were wearing no shirt.

Interactions
------------
Everyone was out on the dance floor dancing with each other.
Some were dancing solo with the group, while others were
slow dancing with a partner.
All of the converstaion was done by local chat.
I did not notice any group chat or vocal chat.

Methodological Notes:

I mereley observed from the right side of the dance floor, instead
of being an active participant. My observations may have changed
had I interacted with the group.

I arrived towards the end of the party. I would have witnessed
people teleporting on to the island had I arrived at the beginning.
Also, I would have witnessed greetings and events at the party if
I had been there for the entire time.

Does this particular event represent how every party takes place?
Out of over 1,000 members, do only a very small percentage of them congregate?

Theoretical Notes:

I arrived at the party expecting to feel like I was in Jamaica.
My expectations were confirmed when I realized the group was dressing
and dancing in typical Reggae style on a beach.

The group owners were the first to greet new-comers.

Everyone was dancing the entire time. While some didn't have
a partner, they still danced in unison with the entire group.

At the end of the event, the music calmed down and everyone
began to dance slowly. Conversation was also at a minimum.

Practice Interview

2009-01-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate enough to get permission from the land owner to conduct an interview today. I received a signed notecard which allowed me to begin my interview. The interview took place right on the island. My reason for interviewing this specific person is as follows:

The interviewee is the land owner and manager of the Sunsplash Reggae Island.
They will be able to offer a great deal of useful information on its background
and its purpose. The interviewee was also eager to answer any and all questions I
was curious about. The interviewee went out of its way to make me feel welcome in
their community. Unlike some of the other foreign members of the group,
this interviewee is fluent in the English language.

This is the conversation:

The purpose of this practice interview is to find out detailed information
relating to Sunsplash and its community. I am looking for its origins and
anything that relates it to Rasta or Reggae roots.

[2009/01/16 14:48] Brock Unplugged: How was this community started and developed?
[2009/01/16 14:48] Interviewee: It was started over a year ago, but in another Sim.
[2009/01/16 14:48] Brock Unplugged: What were some of the reasons for creating the Sunsplash Reggae community?
[2009/01/16 14:48] Interviewee: "xxxxx" loves reggae and wanted a club, and reggae club was best.
[2009/01/16 14:49] Brock Unplugged: What are the various activities Sunplash members get involved with?
[2009/01/16 14:49] Interviewee: Partys, compitions, weddings, fun fun fun
[2009/01/16 14:49] Brock Unplugged: Are non-members allowed to participate in the activities?
[2009/01/16 14:49] Interviewee: Yes
[2009/01/16 14:50] Brock Unplugged: What makes Sunplash different from other Reggae second life groups?
[2009/01/16 14:50] Interviewee: sunsplash is a family
[2009/01/16 14:50] Brock Unplugged: What is the connection between Sunsplash Island and the Reggae culture?
[2009/01/16 14:51] Interviewee: one heart one aim one destiny
[2009/01/16 14:52] Brock Unplugged: Which Reggae beliefs do you practice on Sunsplash Island?
[2009/01/16 14:52] Interviewee: none, just have fun
[2009/01/16 14:53] Brock Unplugged: Thanks for your time :)
[2009/01/16 14:53] Interviewee: No problem
[2009/01/16 14:56] Interviewee: I was surprised by your questions
[2009/01/16 14:56] Interviewee: Was not what I expected

Layout of Virtual World

2009-01-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

I created a preliminary map in order to become better accustomed to my surroundings while visiting and observing. I used an aerial view and made a screenshot of the island. I then labeled the general areas to the best of my ability. This is strictly a preliminary map. A detailed map will be created in the future.

Human Subjects Protection

2009-01-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

We were required to get permission from the land owner or manager in order to make any observations. I wrote up an HSP that detailed what it was I was planning on doing in their community. I discussed with the land owner my objectives and the HSP was signed and returned. With the proper signatures I was now allowed to start my study.

Copy of HSP:

My name is Brock Behme.
I am an undergraduate student enrolled in an introduction to research methods class (Multimedia 333:Introcution to Field Research In Virtual Worlds) at Bradley University in Peoria Il, USA, that is being conducted in Second Life winter/January term, 2009.

We are learning to do field research/ethnography and will not complete formal reasearch this term. But next semester, if we decide to do a project, our projects feature observation of a “community of practice,” that is, a group of people doing similar things in a cultural setting. I am observing this area at this time as I consider what work I might do next term and I am practicing getting the permission of landowners, research subjects, and/or informants.

My observations are merely descriptive: I’ll take notes about what I see and I may summarize those notes in my paper, in class presentations to my classmates, or on my web-blog about this research. The blog is found at: brockunplugged.blogspot.com.

I will not record or publish either the SL or RL name of any avatar/person. Any observations about avatars or recording of their talk transcripts would take place only after having obtained the explicit permission of that avatar/person and would only happen after the name of the avatar had been changed via secret coding scheme.

I do need to remind you that in the case of text chat, others beside myself have copies of text chat (perhaps interviews or general conversations) within their computing systems; likewise, Linden Labs servers have copies. I cannot "control" those copies; I can only promise to control/protect data that is in my possession.

If I were going to observe you as subject, I would ask you if I can have your permission to observe you in general. Any pictures taken in SL, that serve as explanatory data and which might include avatars, will be modified so that avatar names and identifying characteristics are blurred/blocked.

We will also interview subjects and informants about the communities of practice that we are studying. These conversations are, again, voluntary and only with the informed permission of the avatar/person/informant. I may copy out the chat transcript from those conversations/interviews. When we do, we will change/code names so that there is no recorded connection between you/your avatar and the data.

If you agreed to serve as subject of observation, interview, or as an information, you may choose to withdraw at any time without penalty by simply telling me you wish to stop.

You may follow the progress of all of the studies in the class, including this one at: http://slane.bradley.edu/com/faculty/lamoureux/website2/333/mm333ja.html. Presentation of the activities from the class serve as our gift to the communities of practice who share time and knowledge with us; perhaps our perspectives will help residents to more fully understand and appreciate their activities.

If you have questions regarding the class or its activities, you can contact me, in world or out of world via email at BBehme@comcast.net, or my teacher, Professor Beliveau in world or out of world as Ed Lamoureux at ell@bradley.edu, 309-677-2378.

If you are a land owner/venue owner, may I practice observing and interviewing avatars on your land/at your venue? [I may, later, return and ask your permission to do an actual research project here]

land owner/venue operator sign and date here:

_____" xxxx xxxxx "___________________

Thank you for your time and consideration of my requests.

Community Study

2009-01-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

For the remainder of mm333 I will be focusing my
work and efforts on a large Reggae group located
in Second Life.

Group: "xxxxxxxxx"

(1080 members)

Jamaican typical pub whether to be able to listen to music reggae, to relax and to also have a good time him with the friends in shore to the sea.
Very pleasant place whether to spend your time in total relax in the mythical style reggae.

Open Enrollment

Group Possibilities

2009-01-12T16:55:00.001-08:00

For our first assignment we were to find 5 Second Life
groups that we felt would be interesting to observe.
I came up with these options:

1. Image Graphic Design:

second life based design firm
-logos
-ads
-clothes/uniforms

2. Jamband Tourheads:

place for tourheads to discuss shows they have been to
and the lifestyle that goes along with it

3. Buddhist Monks:

they try and teach others the way of BUddha and its beliefs

4. Guitar Builders:

A group for guitar builders and people who want to
learn how to build a guitar.

5. The Second Life Church of Satan:

dedicated to teaching the writings of Anton Szandor LaVey,
Who is the high priest of the actual church of satan