Topic Overview For this assignment you are asked to interview a family member or

By
Responsive Centered Red Button

Need Help with this Question or something similar to this? We got you! Just fill out the order form (follow the link below), and your paper will be assigned to an expert to help you ASAP.

Order Form

Topic Overview
For this assignment you are asked to interview a family member or other elder with whom you have a trusted relationship, about a historical event or era that they experienced first-hand. Your goal is to approach the interview as a semi-structured, informal discussion, in order to gain insight into what it was like to live through this event/era. Through this process you might: better understand how specific individuals and communities experience the forces of history; learn about what has changed or stayed the same over time; and/or learn from a perspective that may not be included in dominant historical narratives, and which might thus provide crucial correctives to dominant understandings of past events and their legacy in the present.
Detailed Instructions
Step 1: Plan your interview.
(NOTE: Other than setting up the interview appointment, we have already done all of this! Yay!)
1) The first step is to determine who you will interview and what the focus of your discussion will be about. For example, you might have a grandparent who immigrated to Canada in the early twentieth century, a parent who lived through Quebec’s Quiet Revolution, or a family friend who was at Woodstock. Avoid topics that may be difficult or traumatic to discuss. You will be asked to submit your interview topic and interviewee for advanced approval. (If you’re not sure whether your topic is appropriate, please send me a MIO or come to office hours to discuss).
2) Once you have decided who you will interview and what the general focus of your discussion will be about, confirm that this person is willing and able to be interviewed. Inform them what you wish to talk about and set a time and place for the interview to take place. (During the interview you will have them sign a consent form – a template is included at the end of this document).
3) Do some preliminary research about the topic that you plan to discuss by finding and summarizing relevant scholarly work (for example, if you are interviewing a grandparent about their experiences immigrating to Canada, you may want to research what was happening in their country of origin at the time they left, or how Canadians were receiving immigrants at the time of their arrival, etc). This background research will provide important context that you can rely on in preparing for and conducting your interview.
4) Use what you’ve learned through your preliminary research to help prepare an interview guide, including keywords/phrases as well as specific open-ended questions that you can turn to during your interview. Remember that your goal is to learn from the perspectives, memories, and insights of your interviewee, NOT to use them as a living Wikipedia page! Your questions should be ones that can’t be answered easily through a Google search.
To prepare your interview guide:
i. Identify your general topic, i.e., your research question or objective. (What is the purpose of your interview? What is it that you want to learn from your interviewee?)
ii. Start with creating a list of keywords and phrases representing the information you want to know. This will act like a ‘road map’ for your conversation. Further instructions about this step can be found here (document also posted on lea): https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/66428.pdf
iii. Prepare a list of 6-7 open-ended questions about your topic that you can turn to, if needed, during the interview. Remember: the goal is to have a guided conversation, not an inquisition! Ideally, you will use the keywords and phrases you listed as topics to be addressed, and ask questions that naturally flow from your conversation around these (rather than rigidly adhering to a list of questions that you set prior to the start of the interview). Read about composing effective interview questions here (document also posted on lea): https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/66429.pdf
Step 2: Conduct your interview.
1) Arrive on time and prepared. You can conduct the interview in person, or through a video-chat platform (e.g., Facetime, Zoom). Have a pen and paper (or tablet and stylus) to take notes, as well as a device for audio recording. Make note of the time, date, and place of the interview.
2) Inform your interviewee what you plan to ask them about, the purpose of the interview (i.e., for your research methods assignment), and present them with two copies of the consent form to sign (see template). Give them one and keep one for your records. Let them know that they are not required to answer any question that makes them uncomfortable and inform them that you will keep their identity confidential by using a pseudonym in your report. Note that if you are conducting your interview through video-chat, you may send a single copy of your consent form electronically, which your interviewee can then sign and send back.
3) Start with easy questions that help you to establish rapport and ease your interviewee into discussion. Your initial questions should aim to establish the context for what you wish to discuss.
4) Guide the conversation towards aspects of the topic you wish to address, using the ‘road map’ and questions you prepared in advance as a guide. As you do so, keep in mind the following tips:
§ Don’t be afraid to let your interviewee steer the conversation in other directions (so long as these remain broadly relevant to your topic). If they steer off-course entirely, gently guide them back to the topic.
§ Ask only one question at a time.
§ Demonstrate active listening through body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and follow-up questions. Don’t be distracted by other things (e.g., your phone) during your conversation. Remember that your interviewee is doing you a favour!
§ Listen more than you talk. We’re often uncomfortable with pauses and silence in conversation—become comfortable with this! Your interviewee will need time to reflect about what you ask. Don’t rush too quickly to a new question or try to fill the silence yourself with chatter.
5) Close your interview by thanking your participant for their time and openness. Follow this up with a note, card, or email once you’ve completed your assignment.
Step 3: Write your research report.
Write a research report that summarizes your findings and reflects on the research process. Write in full sentences, paragraph form. Your report should include the following:
Summary discussion: (approx. 400-600 words)
Provide a short summary of what you learned in conducting your oral history interview that includes:
– A brief introduction to your topic and biographical profile of your interviewee/participant. Use a pseudonym in lieu of your participant’s real name.
– Summarize what you learned about the topic from your interview. Address primary themes, key details, and major events that your participant focussed upon.
– Discuss how the interview contributes to our historical understanding of the topic. E.g.: Does it help us to better understand how specific individuals and communities experienced this event/era/period of change? Does it illuminate what has changed and/or stayed the same over time? Does it address a perspective that may not be included in dominant historical narratives? Etc.
– Include 2-3 quotes from your interview as illustration.
Reflection: (approx. 350-500 words)
Write a short reflection on your experience conducting an oral history interview. Consider the following questions in your reflection:
– How/why was this research methodology useful for researching this particular topic?
– What further questions emerged from your interview, pertaining to your original topic?
– How would you describe your experience of conducting an oral history interview? Did you encounter any frustrations or difficulties? What went well? What would you do differently in future interviews?
– Based on your experience with this research challenge, what can you conclude about the oral history interview as a specific research methodology?
Final Submission Checklist:
o An APA-style title page
o A written summary/discussion of your interview and a reflection on the research process (approx. 750-1100 words total), typed and double-spaced
o If applicable: A reference page, including all works cited, formatted according to APA style
o Your interview notes, included as an appendix at the end of your report (this can be photos of handwritten notes, or screenshots, etc.)
Compile all of the above elements of your report into ONE document and upload to Turnitin by the due date.
CONSENT FORM TEMPLATE
Research topic:
Interview participant:
Faculty supervisor: Prof. Sarah Etezadi
Student researcher:
I have been given and have understood an explanation of this research project. I have been given opportunity to ask questions about the research project and have them answered satisfactorily by the student researcher.
I understand that I have the right to stop the interview or withdraw my participation at any time.
I understand that I have the right to refrain from answering any questions asked during the interview.
I understand that I am free to withdraw my interview responses at any time during the interview.
I understand that the interview may be recorded but that the recording will only be shared with my permission.
I understand that this interview will take approximately 30 – 60 minutes.
I understand that my identity will remain confidential. (Pseudonyms will be used in the final report.)
I have read the statement above and agree to voluntarily take part in this research.
_________________________________________ ____________________
(Participant’s signature) (Date)

How to create Testimonial Carousel using Bootstrap5

Clients' Reviews about Our Services