gifting

Part 1: You will conduct an interview with one to three individuals, beginning with a structured (formal) interview, that you gradually allow to evolve into an informal open-ended interview(2). Plan at least an hour for this interview (longer if you have more than one person). The interview topic will be regarding the social, personal, and economic dimensions of the exchange of gifts. Focus on the following idea: Is there any such thing as a freely given gift, with no reciprocal action warranted? Make sure you have read the relevant material in the textbook (not Wikipedia, Google or other quick internet source) prior to embarking on this interview. Specify with your interviewees that you are concerned with gifting between individuals or families, not charitable donations/activities nor “random acts of kindness” which follow separate social conventions and carry different cultural meanings. Note: Saying “thank you” for a gift is not a reciprocal action; reciprocity would involve a return of at least equal value in goods or services.
In the M6 discussion forum, post a description of the approach you used and a description of your interview. Attach copies or images of your rough interview notes for the additional required 10 points.
Part 2: Gift something to someone and refuse reciprocity. This gift can be something that you made (which means that you need not purchase something in order to carry out this assignment, although it must be recognizable as “a gift”). You are conducting an experiment to determine how the person will react to receiving a gift that they cannot reciprocate. We often say we believe one thing (“it’s the thought that counts”) but then do another. See if you can give someone you know a gift and convince them not to reciprocate, without lengthy argument, because people say gifts are about thoughtfulness (rather than economic exchange), yet when it comes right down to it, they have trouble with actually doing this. You will want to follow these guidelines to get the best result:
• Do not gift to anyone you interviewed in Part 1 as they will be forewarned of your intention!
• Do not gift anonymously; this must be someone you know. Charitable acts and random acts of kindness follow different rule sets.
• Do not gift to someone who may feel you “owe” them.
• Do not gift a “rescue”, such as a lift to stranded person, or a jump for a dead battery, even if you know them. Rescues aren’t “gifts”, they’re “rescues”.
• Do not gift a close family member or particularly close friend, as the concept of delayed reciprocity will impact your results.
• Do not gift someone for an occasion like a birthday, or an event, like someone moving to your neighborhood, or any other culturally acceptable gifting reason, like an illness. You will trigger delayed reciprocity and might also find yourself in a gifting relationship for these types of occasions in future.
• Be very cautious about your gift recipient choice, as you are potentially modifying your current relationship with that individual!
• FOR BEST RESULTS: give your recognizable gift to an acquaintance that you’ve never given a gift before, refuse reciprocity without explanation, and don’t ask for a “thank you” nor state that a “thank you” is all you require (for some reason students often resort to this “thank you” business).
In the M6 Discussion forum, post a description of the gift you gave and to whom, the circumstances, and the reaction upon refusal of reciprocity. Conclude with a synopsis of all your research findings from Parts 1 & 2. Your essay should consist of at least 500 words. Don’t forget to include an answer to the question: Are gifts about economic exchange or is it “the thought that counts”?

Teacher is strict follow all the instructions

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