Field notes: Group Discussion

I was sitting in the IUB library, watching a group of people and they have four people, three girls and one boy. Three girls all wear T-shirts and shorts. They are all black hair. The girl name is Liu. She wears a yellow baseball cap. Other girls, Her name is Qi, and Wang. One boy wears black T-shirt and jeans. His name is Wang. They all took laptop and some notebooks. Liu and Wang were sitting at one of the tables and others were standing there.

The seated Liu said, “ We can say, we consider three points.” and her eye contact with other members.

The boy Wang hesitated a moment before answering. “ How can we get these points?” His expression showed doubts.

“Or, we can separate to these points, like stress…we can repeat it. However, we can add some details for three points.” Qi said. And then, she said: “ otherwise, I want to copy this point because it is the same.”

From my observations I would say that both these students were talking their presentation concepts and had a plan composed them. Qi was obviously very seriously – she had a chair but she hadn’t seated it. She just was walking here and there because she was seeing other people what were they doing. Also, Wang, Liu and Qi use their computer and exchange their presentation drafts. When Liu provide her ideas. Wang’s expression showed doubts and ask her question. This question seemed to show Wang listen very carefully and seriously. When Liu didn’t answer this question. Qi gave her opinion. This answer seemed to their relationship are very comfortable. When Liu and Qi were talking about presentation concepts, other people were reading their presentation draft and use computer editing draft each other.

This greeting throws light both on how people act as group members each other and the nature of greetings and conversation in general. Liu seemed to be looking forward her group members could agree her idea. When she said her ideas, her eye contact with other people. This behavior show she hope her members can accept her suggestion. Then, Wang hesitated a moment and asked her question but Liu cannot answer it. Qi helped her ask Wang question and gave her opinion. This is displaying their relationship is good and showing that they discussion very seriously and listen other people talking very carefully. Even though Liu cannot answer Wang question, nobody say something. When Qi was walking there and here, shows that she hope she can know other people whether need help because she always ask them “did you have question?” In their relationship, they would like to share what is on their minds and suggestion. When they were talking some questions, they were laugh in some time, displaying their discussion atmosphere is very comfortable both makes them feel good in the meeting time and would probably corporation much better.

What this greeting show about the nature of Chinese students conversation in discussion, or at least greeting around here, is that exchange ideas. The Wang hesitated a moment ask question. He is man. However, when Liu cannot answer and Qi help her. It is like the Hidden Culture of Aggression in girl article the Rachel think girls are in-group. They are always helping each other. Because greeting start conversation off, this means that the most conversation should girls support girls idea. This is something I knew but never put into group meeting in American students before.