Field-site Selection

I chose to do my research on Deaf culture, more specifically, storytelling in Deaf
culture.  At first, I wanted to do research on something involving medicine like EMT or
nursing.  However, as I thought about it more, I realized that it would be very difficult to
actually carry out any of the research.  I would not have been able to film or take any
pictures in a hospital or doctors office if I did nursing.  Even though I found a way to be
able to go on ride-alongs on an ambulance, I still would not be allowed to film or take
pictures of anything other than the actual ambulance and the EMT’s outside of work.
Last year I took a language and culture class with Dr. Weissman.  An entire section of the
class focused on deaf culture and she even brought in two lectures from the deaf
community.  The little that I learned on deaf culture in that class really stuck with me and
I even looked into learning ASL.  So, when I saw that Byron was interested in deaf
culture I decided to change my research topic and partner with him.

Deciding what to focus my research on was less difficult than choosing the broad
topic.  One of the lecturers that Dr. Weissman brought into our class was a deaf man.  I
noticed that when he would tell us stories or just sign to us, he was very animated. Even
without the translator, you could still understand the general idea of the story.  I would
even say that he was a better storyteller than most hearing people I know.  So, when it
came time to focus my research on a more specific topic I knew right away that I wanted
to do something concerning storytelling, body gestures, and/or facial expressions of the
deaf.

I e-mailed Dr. Weissman about the lecturers she brought into class to see if they
would be interested in helping me with my research.  Byron contacted a friend of Dr.
Quinn’s whose parents are deaf and whose daughter wears a cochlear implant.  She said
that she would be more than willing to help us with our research and we are meeting with
her this week.  This is perfect for us because our contact is actually hearing and she
knows ASL so she can translate for us.  It is going to be strange, at first, communicating
with someone who can not hear what I am saying, but I think that having someone there
who can translate for me will ease the transition in becoming more comfortable.  Also,
we have more than one deaf person to interview and observe telling stories.  However, I
am not sure if we should continue with the Dr. Weissman’s contacts or is Byron’s
contact will be enough for our research.

I of course hope to learn a lot about my research topic but I actually hope to learn
a lot more. I am excited about learning a little ASL.  I am also excited to just learn about
and be able to observe the normal everyday life of a deaf person, a hearing person raised
in a deaf household, and a person with a cochlear implant.

-Robyn