Activity 2

 

 

The Interview

1. formulate a preliminary research question
2. locate an individual that you can interview in the hope of gaining initial clues toward the answer to your research question
3. research as necessary
4. develop an interview strategy
5. formulate a "notes sheet" to take to your interview
6. enact your interview
7. take field/post-interview notes
8. listen to your entire tape
9. transcribe at least 500 words (about two full typed/doubled spaced pages) surrounding the two or more quotes you will use in the paper (a total of about 500 words that includes the two quotes, not 500 words per quote!)
10. prepare the write-up in sections as follows

 

Section One

Main Heading

Date, Start Time, Stop Time

Place, City, Description

Who (Use a Pseudonym as Necessary)

Example:

R. Howard
Interview with Jim Gardener
9/19/03 11:30 AM
The Harmony Grill, Atwood Neighborhood, Madison

 

 

Section Two

State your Original/General Research Question

Do not choose a question that you intend to answer through a direct question, like: "Is it hard to be an hip-hop white boy in Madison today?"

A fine question, but one that you need to delve into further to make it worth your time to do the interview.

Example:

Research Question
How do West High School seniors who feel that they participate in "hip-hop" culture understand their own social and economic status in relation to their perception of that of urban African Americans today and in the past?

 

Section Three

Assessment

In 2 - 5 pages, answer the following question:

Using specific quotes as examples, how successful did you feel you interview strategy was? What insights did you gain into your research question? What could you have done differently to have improved your results for this interview? If you were to pursue this research question as part of a larger project, how would you proceed?

 

 

Turn in:

1. Typed answer to the question above.

2. A photocopy or scan of the informed consent form that you made and used with your respondent.

3. The full 500 word transcription of the section of your interview. (You do not need to turn in your entire tape or MP3.)