SNP semi-structured interviews
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Contents
Introduction
These semi-structured interviews are intended to collect data about the third key question that the schome-NAGTY Teen Second Life Pilot is investigating, namely: To what extent do the SParkers develop knowledge age skills?
The core questions
We are currently at the stage of agreeing what core questions we should ask in order to help us answer that key question - help us to decide by contributing to the discussion in the forum which will feed into the questions that we are developing on this page.
We agreed in the research meeting on the 30th March 2007 that we would work together to develop four core questions that all the researchers would ask, and that each researcher would also ask a couple of additional questions that they had come up with themselves.
We need to remember that all of these questions should be focussed on helping us to answer the key question: To what extent do the SParkers develop knowledge age skills?
The 4 core questions
- What have you done in Schome Park so far (describe in as much detail)?
- How important has teamwork and leadership been to you in achieving things in TSL?
- How does TSL affect your confidence and the sorts of communications you have?
- In what ways have you had to problem solve and be creative in adapting to life in TSL?
Additional questions
Add the questions you would like to ask here - remember that the aims is that they help us answer our key question (To what extent do the SParkers develop knowledge age skills?)
- Add your question under here (put an * at the front, then your question)
- What do you think you have learnt from your involvement in Schome Park (or the schome-NAGTY Teen Second Life Pilot more generally)?
- When you have been in-world what has motivated you to get involved in TSL?
- What have you found most difficult / frustrating in TSL?
Doing the interviews
Make sure you record below who you have interview and when. This will mean people are less likely to get hassled lots!!!
At the start of the interview let the person know that you are recording text and that the data may be used for a written report. Tell the person they can stop doing the interview at any time they like.
Make sure you've turned both chatlogging and IM logging on. To do this go to Edit>Preferences and put a check mark against Log chat and Log Instant Messages. Take a note of the folder where the .txt file gets saved on your desktop. If you don't like it, you can browse to change it. Chatlogs and IM logs get saved as chatlog.txt avatarname.txt and will grow and grow unless you rename them so remember to rename them after each interview.
What to do with the Research Logs
Rename each IM Research log so something like YOURNAME INTERVIEWEENAME ddMMYY.txt and email it to:
schome-sl-help@open.ac.uk
Here are some handy research tips:
DO
... ask open questions (eg ones that the respondent cannot 'get wrong' - so things like: 'What did you do, why do you think ...)
...ask questions that get answers by making your questions clear and more focused as you proceed, pick up on things the interviewee says and check their meaning or ask follow up questions, show that you are genuinely interested in their responses.
...have a plan but be flexible by deciding on your questions or topics in advance,but not sticking to them relentlessly if they are proving ineffective or if the interviewee has unexpected, interesting responses. The core questions are decided above, but you may have your own additional questions.
DON'T
...interrogate the person remember they are giving you their time, make it pleasant and useful for them if you can, value their responses and thank them for them
...ask closed questions that only require a yes/no answer (or where the respondent has to try to 'guess the answer' that you have in mind)
...ask leading questions so the person tells you what you want to hear (or they think you want to hear) rather than what they really think or feel.
Record of who has been interviewed
|
Interviewer |
Name of avatars you have interviewed + date |
| Put interviewer name | Put interviewee name (put date and time of interview) |
| Rufus Schomer | Flio Schomer (24/04/2007 5:35) |
| Wheelo Schomer | Topper Schomer, (24/04/2007 5:35) |
| Rufus Schomer | Hapno Schomer (25/04/2007 10:25) |
| Trixxiee | Rufus Schomer (24/04/2007, completed 27/04/2007, 4:20) |
| Rufus Schomer | wheelo Schomer (27/04/2007 3:50) |
| Wheelo Schomer | Trixxiee Schomer (05/05/2007 7:15pm) |
| Topper Schomer | Decimus Schomer (I can't remember when; he forgot to add it when it was so I'm adding for him --Decimus 19:40, 5 May 2007 (BST)) |
