[Last modified: December, 9 2024 04:04 PM]
Pilot research project
- This research explores headphone usage in public spaces, focusing on what it reveals about evolving social norms and behaviours.
- It examines how headphones shape or reflect interactions in public, with a specific focus on socialising (or the lack thereof).
- The study will investigate headphone use on the tube, comparing findings to cultural norms in other countries.
- Adopting an anthropological lens, the research emphasises how people use headphones to connect with peers, strangers, and their environment.
Research questions
- How do people use headphones in public spaces like the tube to navigate interactions with peers, strangers, or their environment?
- In what ways does headphone usage promote or hinder social connections in public spaces?
- What drives individuals to use headphones in public e.g. are they seeking escape, productivity, connection, or something else?
- How do cultural norms around headphone usage differ, and what do these differences suggest about broader social behaviours in public spaces?
Methods
- Observations: Conducting fieldwork in public, for example on the tube, during various times of day to observe headphone usage. I would look at the number of people using headphones in different contexts (e.g. commuting solo vs. in groups), behavioural patterns (e.g. eye contact, conversations) and demographics (i.e. who’s more likely to be wearing headphones.
- Comparative Analysis: Comparing findings from the tube in London with secondary research or firsthand observations in other cultural contexts (e.g. subway systems in Japan, New York, or France) to see cultural variations in headphone norms.
- Interviews: Conduct interviews with participants who frequently use headphones in public spaces. Questions will explore:
- Why they choose to wear headphones in public.
- What they aim to accomplish (e.g., escape, productivity, comfort).
- Their perceptions of how headphone use affects their social experiences and interactions.
- Whether they feel satisfied or disconnected from their surroundings as a result.
Potential challenges and risks
- Approaching strangers for interviews may be challenging, especially in high-traffic or fast-paced settings like the tube. Alternative methods, such as distributing online surveys or leveraging social media, could supplement face-to-face interviews.
- Ethical considerations will be crucial, particularly regarding privacy in public spaces during observations.