Homeless in America: A Study on Consumption and Possessions

This report presents an ethnographic study on the consumption behaviors of homeless individuals in America. Conducted by Ronal Paul Hill and Mark Stamey, the research utilized direct observations, conversations, and field notes to understand the significance of possessions, how they are acquired, and their meaning within the context of homelessness. The study reveals a sense of community, the influence of fear on trust, and conscious choices in living situations. It highlights the importance of consumer patterns not just for survival but also for establishing a sense of self and identity. The qualitative approach provides a rich description of the homeless experience, which can contribute to a deeper understanding of consumer behavior within this population.

1. Article – The homeless in America: An examination of possessions and consumption
behaviors
Authors-Ronal Paul Hill and Mark Stamey
Purpose – An ethnographic study to understand the survival tactics and consumer
behavior of the homeless people in America.
2. The ethnographic research was conducted to examine the consumption behavior of the
homeless to understand what kinds of possessions were significant, how they were
acquired, and their associated meanings for them. Guest, Namey and Mitchell (2013)
consider three elements to be important in a participant observation study, namely,
conducting observation in situ, building a rapport with the participants, and spending
adequate time in interaction. The two authors, trained in sociology and consumer
behavior, met all three requirements in their research. Various sources such as direct
observations, conversations, photographs, videotapes, field notes and other such on-site
interaction methods were employed to collect data. The outcomes revealed a sense of
community within the homeless, fear of being attacked as a basis for mistrust, and a
conscious pattern of choices in their living situation. Their intriguing consumer patterns
are necessary not for their survival but also to provide a sense of self and identity. An
ethnographic research was the best approach to get such a rich and thick description of
the homeless that served the purpose of the study.
3. Qualitative findings can add credibility to an inductive argument or deductive reasoning
to substantiate the findings of evidence-based practices. They cannot directly infer
causality but can explain the research context and variables better (Kozleski, 2017).

References
Guest, G., Namey, E. E., & Mitchell, M. L. (2013). Collecting qualitative data: A field
manual for applied research.75-112 Sage
Hill, R. P., & Stamey, M. (1990). The homeless in America: An examination of possessions
and consumption behaviors. Journal of consumer research, 303-321.
Kozleski, E. B. (2017). The uses of qualitative research: Powerful methods to inform
evidence-based practice in education. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe
Disabilities, 42(1), 19-32.