My methodology is shaped by the following research questions: 

1. "What are the indicators that let someone know they entered Highlandtown?”
2. "What does the space in the neighborhood of Highlandtown mean for the Latine community?”

As I answer these questions through my research study I plan to:

1. Document what are the physical signs that lets someone, who is not familiar with the area, know they entered Highlandtown. I will compare the physical signs for example, a street sign stating Highlandtown Avenue with the more subtle signs for example sounds, smells, and movement specific to the area.
2. Document what are the emotions I feel when I enter Highlandtown. 
3. Analyze how I interact with the physical and communal space of Highlandtown.

My literature review expanded on how I will answer this questions. I considered the work of Öztürk (2022) who daily interactions and tasks like riding a boat and conversing with people on the boat, as a way to document how Armenians create their sense of identity in Istanbul. It also reminded me that the day to day interactions aren't mundane and should be seen as something new and exciting. This motivated me to see how I and others naturally use the spaces we are in. The work of Taylor (2013), a scholar in performance studies, shaped how I see interpret performance when walking through Highlandtown. I expanded the definition of performance by including Öztürk's work of daily interactions and tasks as "the presentation of being". The act of placing items on the window sill of a store is a performance and a daily task. This way of seeing allows me to document the more subtle signs of what Highlandtown is and how it is displayed by Latines in the community. I can then document how I feel about about the displays. 

Fieldsite 

I will conduct my research study in Highlandtown. Highlandtown is defined by the cross streets Grundy Street & Eastern Ave, Fleet Street & Eastern Ave, E Baltimore Street & S Lindwood Avenue, and E Baltimore & N Haven Street. The borders of Highlandtown is beside Patterson Park which I will also include in the research study. However since my research study is based on knowing when someone enters Highlandtown, these street signs will be used as a reference of gauging where Highlandtown is located. Instead of staying within these physical borders that superficially define Highlandtown I will extend what is considered Highlandtown based on my observations and interactions. 

Communities/Positionality

I’ve conducted previous research in Highlandtown so I am familiar with the area. However, my familiarity is limited based on the locations of the events I attended for my past research.  In this research study I plan to extend past the locations I am already familiar with while also revising the past locations. My experience with Highlandtown is my interactions with the Latine community so I predominantly consider Highlandtown a Latine community. This is one misconception I always reflect on because Highlandtown is historically a neighborhood of immigrants. The neighborhood isn’t entirely composed of Latines. My research study will focus on what Highlandtown means for the Latine community but I will not exclude other communities who call Highlandtown their home. I will document the diversity in Highlandtown during my research study. 

Participants

Methods

Participant observations will be the primarily way I gather my data for this research study. I plan to visit Highlandtown approximately 5-10 times for my research study. I will try to be in Highlandtown in the morning, afternoon, and night. I will first walk around the area using the physical borders of Highlandtown as a guide. Based on the initial walk through of Highlandtown I plan to chose 4 locations I describe at “high traffic” areas. The initial walk through of Highlandtown will be considered one of the visits. The “high traffic” areas are locations where there is consistent movement for example, Eastern Avenue and Conkling street is one “high traffic” area for my research study. This is one of the locations because it is near a library, bus stops, and restaurants. There are always people and mobile vehicles passing this location. The “high traffic” locations will help me see people who live in Highlandtown. When I visited Highlandtown in the past I noted there is a difference in movement based on times. I also want to consider this for my research study mainly so I have a more thorough understanding of the neighborhood overall. 

The methodology I chose to collect my data is based on my auto-ethnographic approach for my research. I will incorporate sounds, smells, etc. I see in Highlandtown that can only be documented to its fullest through auto-ethnography. In addition, auto-ethnography, I'm using the visceral methodology to capture this sounds, smells, and emotions felt through auto-ethnography. Visceral methodology uses the human body as a medium to experience an environment (Ash 2017). The "high traffic" areas I'm using for this research project is based on the work of Öztürk who used sensory explorations during his project to observe and understand time and place-making. He explained by observing the day to day practices of people it an understanding of who the people are and how they use the space they are. This way framework of observing also documents how people place meaning into a space. Creswell (2009) and Tuan (1975), human geographers, state that a space becomes a place through human interactions and daily interactions. The people within the space explain what meaning is inside a place. So I can understand what Highlandtown means for the local community I must observe their movement within the neighborhood. 

I will document my participant observations in my field journal and phone. My phone is the most accessible so it will contain most of my field notes. I foresee my field journal being use to reflect on what I saw and quick notes. I hope to transfer these notes onto a word doc to have it all in one concise location. 
 

Materials

My research study is based on auto-ethnography but it also includes the sensorial and visceral components that come naturally in auto-ethnography. I want to document the sounds and sights I witness in Highlandtown so I will add in a photos and videos. My hope is this will give more life to Highlandtown when I explain it to people who are not familiar with the area. 

Data Analysis

Timeline