Ethnographic Research: Project Proposal
Topic and Focus: Online dating is a relatively new phenomenon that has transformed over the past several years from website services like Match.com and OkCupid.com to apps like Tinder and Bumble. These services provide a unique way to date that would have been impossible to previous generations. More people than ever are meeting their partners on dating sites and I’m interested in conducting research to see how this new method of choosing and interacting with potential romantic partners influences how people view dating in a social and personal context.
I’m going to focus my research on the dating app Bumble, because unlike other dating apps, only women are able to initiate contact by sending the first message. Men are then able to respond to the chat, but this format subverts the traditional idea that men should be the pursuers in the relationship while women should be passive recipients of attention. I’m interested in how women perceive Bumble as opposed to other more traditional online dating platforms, and whether or not they find it to be a successful service.
Interviews and Fieldwork: I will conduct four interviews with women between the ages of 18–25 who use Bumble to match with potential male partners. I will also conduct online research and use class readings.
Calendar:
· Week 2: Declare topic and identify interview subjects
· Week 3: Complete interviews, analyze transcripts, and gather sources
· Week 4: Outline paper and complete rough draft
· Week 5: Revise draft and submit final paper
