Operational: "natural progression of a study along with any changes in direction and the context from which these arise."

Coding: Inductive/deductive themes that emerge. "Definitional Statements"

Analytical: "abstraction and to explore hypotheses, relationships and explanations contained within the data."

2.) Operational: I hung around inside the coffee shop for about 5 minutes before the space became too crowded and then I stepped outside where I could still see interactions. Students stepped in to either order drinks or buy snacks and either entered in pairs or alone. workers were very talkative to one another.

Codes: Students who come in with another person vs. students who come in alone; Cashier dynamic vs. Baristaa

Analytical: There is a sense of community in the coffee shop but there are also a few individuals who are not as engaged such as the cashier and those who come in alone. Is it because they are physically separated from others ?

-4 with people

-3 with multiple people

-all had ipads/laptops out

-Conversations and Laughters at every table

-Those sitting alone are very focused on their laptops

-On average 20-22 people pass by per minutes

-Music is a theme, a dj, music coming from phones and laptops, lots of headphones/airpods

-A weird smell of sewage

-Backpacks of every size, purses, tote bags

-1 bicycle

-lots of young love, three couples passed by holding hands

-many people on their cellphones, including myself at times

My approach- I felt like people were staring at me so I also pulled my phone out to look like everyone else on their technology

1. Approach felt natural bc of my distance from the environment I was observing. No need to feel pressured to perform or act a certain way. I was a member of this clam, natural setting.

2. Some operational, coding, and analytical memos added to the image above.

Opertational: Group sitting arrangements, Long tables against the window for people sitting alone or charging, Very dark, TV's off, "The Spot" was closed (most affordable in the hall)

Coding: Few social interactions, Most people watching a show, headphones on

Analytical: People come here to eat and unwind, mostly independently

My Approach: As an observer/researcher, my approach is mostly non-intrusive and descriptive. I focus on noticing behaviors, and social patterns without judging or interrupting. I’m a practicing participant observing from a distance, meaning I’m present but not involved.

Emerging Themes: Calm and comfort encourage both focus and social connection. Students show independence and self-regulation in shared spaces. The environment shapes how students engage and interact.

Analytical: The calm lighting and relaxed mood might relate to how students manage stress or build social comfort during lunchtime. I start forming small hypotheses, such as how environment impacts focus or how group dynamics reflect belonging. This process helps me connect to broader ideas about learning spaces, student agency, and social balance, like how calm lighting and a relaxed atmosphere could help students focus or feel more comfortable with friends. This helped me think about possible patterns or relationships between environment and behavior.

• Although there were people who were just sitting there without food, I felt out of place

• Initially: had a teacher hat on because the majority of the people eating were young adults, and a little bit like a stalker because I was just looking around

Operational: 

• It was really quite and I wonder if that was because 1- they were about to close or because it was late

In trying to mimic the Double Dutch Methodology, I experimented by going on TikTok Live in a numerology chat. The experience helped me see how participation requires timing, sensitivity, and improvisation, just like finding the right rhythm to jump into the ropes. At first, the chat was quiet and not very responsive. I realized I couldn’t just “observe” passively; I had to listen for the rhythm of the space and respond in a way that matched the group’s tone.

When one participant received an unfavorable reading and began asking follow-up questions that weren’t answered, I felt a tension between my observer and participant selves. I wanted to comfort them, to “make them feel better,” even though I didn’t know them personally. That emotional pull revealed that my approach to observation is deeply empathetic, I naturally attune to the emotions of others and feel compelled to restore balance when I sense discomfort.

I also questioned my impulse: Why do I feel responsible for their feelings? That moment helped me recognize how my positionality and care orientation shape how I engage in spaces. I ultimately chose humor (“Relationships are overrated anyway, at least you get to decide where you can go for dinner”) to establish connection without crossing boundaries or getting to specific. This interaction reminded me that sometimes relational rhythm isn’t about fixing, but flowing, finding a tone that matches the energy while maintaining awareness of my role.

Memo

-Operational - purpose= to experiment how to participate without dominating

-Challenge: determining how to participate without dominating or over-identifying.

- Strategy: humor as a bridge to re-engage the group without imposing myself.

Coding Memo

• My empathic reflex, boundaries, emotional climate

Analytic-

• I noticed my observational style is care driven, feeling the space,

• I questioned my reasoning and chose to respond differently based on my realization

• What if they didn't feel bad? What if I was projecting- Then I had an existential crisis (lol)

Memoing

• operational: I wonder if I would have had a better eyes view if I was sitting at the second floor.

• coding: students with reusable water bottles only had one drink, while most students without had multiple drinks (energy + water + something else). Students in groups of 3+ were loud. Students 2 and less were quiet.

• seeing cops come into the building in uniforms and armed made some people leave.

Coding: Themes included: color of clothing, hair length, direction of movement (past the front, sitting down, walking through, etc.)

Analytical: Most people were walking through the SU to get to the parking lot/drop off, or sitting to talk with someone else. Only one person had a vehicle (scooter); everyone else was walking.