Angelina D’Andria

SOCA104-03

Prof. Kreger

9/13/18

In-Group Interviews, Explanations, and Analyses

Subject: Neil

In-Groups and Why:

1. Baby Boomers- More considerate/selfless towards their peers (A)

2. Marvel Fandom- Hires great actors and has consistent fluency between movie series (P)

3. Online Buy/ Trade- Cost efficient and utilizes his specialties gained from being a

handyman (P)

Analysis: Neil prefaced the interview by stating his lack of interaction in social in-groups, but,

instead, had groups based on his interests and career. An example of this is his love for Marvel

movies and his participation in the fandom. His preference was very technical and based on the

production quality of the movies and the actor’s experience and performances which he feels is

evident in a majority of the movie reviews when compared to DC films or other superhero

genres. His career as a handyman has also influenced his involvement in online buy and trade

groups which he prefers over buying new furniture and other household accessories due to his

low income job and abilities to refurbish because of his blue collar training. However, when

comparing the Baby Boomer generation (which his friend group consists entirely of) to other

generations such as millennials or Gen Z’s, he used assumptions to try and state that his
generation is more selfless and determined towards their work ethic and peers. Although many

older generations believe this, it cannot be entirely factual proven.

Subject: Kelly

In-Groups and Why:

1. Employee Resource Group- passionate workers trying to better the awareness of mental

health (A and P)

2. Marriott Vacation Club- Offers the most hotel options around the world (P)

3. Johnson and Johnson IT Department- Information security department is progressive for

security awareness and is one of the most protective departments of data compared to

other businesses (P)

Analysis:

Kelly prioritizes her career and vacations which dictates her primary in-groups and investments.

Her preference towards the Marriott Vacation Club was influenced by their multitude of

locations, hotels, and options, since they are well-known among other businesses for their vast

amount of vacation benefits. She also works in the IT Department for Johnson and Johnson

which is regarded for their efforts towards improving security awareness and allow their

customers to exploit their full amount of data in the safest way possible. However, when asked

about her involvement in an employee resource group, she responded that her coworkers are

incredibly diligent in their attempts to better the recognition of mental illness. From her point of

view, this could be a preference because their passion could increase the benefits of this specific

group, but, if compared to another resource group, this remark could be considered an
assumption because it is a difficult endeavor to factually prove the difference in enthusiasm

between two competing assemblies.

Subject: Anjini

In-Groups and Why:

1. FHSTC (Theatre Club)- “Because we’re awesome” (A) and better quality shows

compared to other high schools (P)

2. Classic Book Club- Enhances literacy and comprehension through experience and

example (P)

3. French Club- More fun than other school clubs (A)

Analysis: Questioning Anjini was an interesting contrast from the opinions of the other adults

with additional life experience and values. The most important in-groups present in Anjini’s life

at this time show me her large contribution to school social groups. I should’ve presumed this

earlier since the majority of an adolescent’s life is school. For all groups mentioned above, she

was introduced through education which, most likely, had an effect on her reasoning behind

choosing these specific clubs. At first, she would respond to the question of why these in-groups

surpass others in their basic aspects with educational benefits and similar answers. This is

evident in her retort when asked about classic book club and her preference towards

improvement in literature components and cognizance. However, her opinion on French Club

and Theatre were both based on assumptions such that French Club is, most easily, just more fun

or that Theatre is superior because, “We just are.” She did also state that, compared to

components of other high school musical performances, Freedom High School had much better
quality in aspects such as stage crew and acting intensity. This is very clearly based on

preference and observation.

Subject: Tony

In-Groups and Why:

1. Cross Country Group- “It’s what I do” (A) and it’s family tradition to participate in the

sport (P)

2. Phillies- Local sports team (P)

3. Notre Dame Basketball- Has 30 years of experience score keeping for them (A)

Analysis: Neighbors and other residents of the area who know Tony are well aware of his ties to

the area and surrounding districts. He is very involved in athletics and schools in Bethlehem

which is most likely a result of his previous history within the town, as observed in his

assumption that Notre Dame Basketball is great because he has volunteered his time and efforts

there for years. Speaking of which, locality is clearly a very important part of Tony’s in-group

participation since all of the groups he is affiliated with are close by and have very personal ties

to the community, referenced in his love for the local Phillies baseball team for no reason other

than region. He is very family oriented which comes through in his passion for running and cross

country groups with his family which he values because of the tradition passed from him to his

children and eventually his grandchildren. He did, at first, make the assumption that he finds

cross country to be superior because it’s “what he does,” but after more thought, he was able to

find reasoning behind his choice of group.

Subject: Kenneth

In-Groups and Why:

1. German Club- Integrates middle schoolers and introduce them to high school curriculum

(P)

2. Aevidum- Offers peer tutoring (P)

3. Votech- Able to learn a trade and can get certified within the trade to legally work soon

after (P)

Analysis: Kenneth’s interview presented me with an additional condition in relation to the

differences between preferences and assumptions on bias. When examining the time taken to ask

the given questions and for the interviewee to answer, I found a distinct correlation between

those who took longer to think of an appropriate response to primarily preferences towards their

chosen groups. Subjects who answered immediately were more likely to reply with an

assumption. Kenneth, for instance, thought for over a minute before giving his answers which, as

seen above, are all benefits based on factual evidence of the individual club’s characteristics.

When I presented this idea to Kenneth, he agreed that the more time taken to mull over the

benefits of a club allows more processing of the amount of participation towards the club itself.