cohort interviews

In March 2011, WBUR asked visitors to a Boston Museum of Science exhibition to record “conversations with loved ones about how the concept of race has affected their lives.” These interviews were then broadcast as a Morning Edition series. https://www.wbur.org/news/2011/03/14/storycorps-boston-race

Towards developing a wider sense of the pleasures, perils, issues, and concerns of youth and their relationship to the entertainment industries, conduct (5) informal interviews with three cohort groups:  (2-3) friends, (1-2 ) co-workers, and (1) family-adult member. 

Interview questions (probe):  

  • What are some of your entertainment industry pleasures?  
  • What are some critical issues facing youth?  What are your concerns?
  • What are some critical issues facing youth related to the entertainment industries?

Note – questions may be modified based on what works for you.

Goals:

  • Engage a conversation on these issues.
  • Practice good listening and informal interviewing skills.
  • This includes FOLLOW-UP questions.  People generally have more to say; at the (pregnant) pause, “Can you say more?”  “What do you mean?”
  • Write field notes describing and reflecting on the “conversational narrative” (Grele).
  • Bring these ideas to our wider classroom dialogue formulating a YDEI praxis agenda.

Outcomes: 

  1. Write several paragraphs (one to two pages) reporting what happened.  Approach this as a mini-essay, with a beginning and conclusion, that starts with a strong opening sentence.
  • Summarize and describe the conversational narratives.
  • As best you can, summarize narrator responses to specific questions.
  • Where possible and purposeful, include direct quotes or paraphrasing.
  • Reflect on the meanings; in formal fieldwork this includes analysis, interpretation, and reflection.   Free write on what was said, and how it resonates for you.

\Written assignments are single-spaced & typed in Times New Roman or Arial (size 12 font), 1-inch margins all around. Remember to proofread. Include a heading (single-spaced) that includes name, date, assignment title.  Turn in as a paper document.