Microethnography Reflection
This microethnography explores an interaction in a local dental office in Cary, North Carolina, to understand what physically embodied movements and material objects might indicate in this interaction.
This particular exploration of the interaction looks at a video recording of the interaction during a financial consult for the patient on needed dental treatment. The video recorded in the session was take into the computer and edited into a two camera setup to demonstrate different elements of the interaction.
The clip I will be discussing in this work takes place in the middle of the interaction, when the patient (in the green sweater) is asked what kind of payments she would prefer — spread out over a period of months or to pay up front costs for the treatment. Upon answering the question (2:58), the patient looks away from the financial coordinator, suggesting her awkwardness at answering such a question, perhaps on camera. Her hands stay tucked under the table during most of the interaction, but after being offered different types of payment options, the patient indicates, “I want to get it all done today, but I just can’t afford it all right now.” During this answer, the participant looks away to the side (3:23), ducking her head and scratching a part of her shoulder while offering that she’d like the complete the treatment as soon as possible. This change in posture suggests a moment of hesitancy about discussing finances and the realities of the situation. The patient retains this posture throughout almost the entire rest of the interaction with the financial coordinator. However, by the end of the interaction, once numbers have been reached which do fit into the patients budget, the particpant’s posture visibly relaxes, and she offer thanks to the financial coordinator, also suggesting relief that the treatment may be possible.
Filming this microethnography was awkward to say the least — although I gained verbal and written consent from participants, and explained the nature of the research, participants were still very hesitant to speak on camera, and multiple consults turned me down. I think I need to grow in a plain presentation of the goals of the study. Secondarily, I asked the participants to wear mics for the duration of the interaction. Looking back, a a shotgun mic might have been a less intrusive choice. Additionally, I think I could have stuck to a one camera setup and still been successful, and the secondary camera added additional complexities to the shot.
Overall, this was a useful foray into the world of micrethnography. I would likely frame many things differently in the future — firstly, I would not choose a financial consult, but perhaps a treatment consult so that patients felt more comfortable. Secondly, I would minimize my equipment and my own presence in the space.
