Greek Cypriot Ethnographies:
Protocol for Depth Interview
using Dervin's Sense-Making Methodology
(2010)

[About Sense-Making. The interview theory and methodology used for this interview protocol.]

"Reflexive Writing: Digital Storytelling and Oral History" class, University of  Cyprus Department of  English Studies

 

Instructions to Interviewers                                    

Below is a script to use when talking with your interview participant.  Feel free to adjust the wording if needed to help get across the meaning:

PURPOSE
“The purpose of this conversation [interview] is to hear how you view your experiences surrounding a moment in your life.  We're going to use an interesting interview process and you are going to have a lot of control over the discussion.”

PROCEDURE
“We're going to start with a general look at a moment in your life.  A time when you remember living together in peace with Turkish Cypriot neighbors.  Then we will look at specific things you remember from this time. Then we'll talk about each of those moments you remember in depth.”

YOUR STORY
“The story about when you recall living together in peace with Turkish Cypriot neighbors that I'm interested in here is any specific event or story that is in your mind.  What's most important is that you feel comfortable that the story of your experience is told.  And you'll have plenty of opportunities to make sure that happens.”

TIME/ RECORDING/ PSEUDONYM
“The total time involved for our conversations should be between 1 to 2 hours.  We can do this over a couple of sessions if you like.  I'm going to record the conversation, and I'm going to use a different name for you when I type up the conversation notes.  Do you have a preference for names?  Is there a name you'd like to pick out that I might use?”

REPETITION/ CHAIN
“I'll be asking questions that may seem a bit repetitive, but they're intended to get deeper and deeper into your story.  So, for example, I'll ask "How did something help you?" and you'll give an answer.  Then I'll ask how that answer helped you, and keep on going deeper.  I call this “probing,” or the "chain."

“An example of a "help chain" might be: Let's say I read a novel, and it helps me understand my father better.  Then the chaining would say: "How did understanding your father better help you?"  And I reply, "Well, that helped me get along with him better."  The chaining would go on: "And then how did getting along with him better help you?"  And I answer -- and so we go on like this until I think it ends or you tell me it ends.”

“You have a lot of control over how the conversation [interview] goes.  You can tell me that you already answered the question earlier, or you can interpret a question any way you like, or you can choose to move the discussion to something you feel is more important -- there is a lot of flexibility in this interview process.”

“Do you have any questions before we begin?”


Deep Interview: Cultural Memory of Peace
Protocol

Names of people in group:____________________________________________________________________ 

Name of Person You are Interviewing __________________   His/her Relationship to you: __________________
                                                                                                                                                                       
Date of Interview: ____________________

[Go over “Explanation to Participant” before using this protocol”]

“Think back to a time, or moment, or event in your life when you can remember living in peace with Turkish Cypriot neighbors.  You can choose any specific moment or incident that you wish that gives us an example.

[AFTER HE/SHE THINKS OF THE TIME OR MOMENT OR EVENT]:
1.  “Could you tell me about [describe to me] this time or moment or event?”

 

[AFTER HE/SHE DESCRIBES THE MOMENT OR EVENT]
2.  “Thank you.  So, as I understand the time or moment or event in your life when you can remember living in peace with Turkish Cypriot neighbors, it was 
_____________________________________________________ “ [REPEAT FROM YOUR NOTES ALL THE INFORMATION AND DETAILS HE/SHE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE MOMENT OR EVENT]

“Did I get down the event you told me the way you wanted [accurate]?”  [IF NO, WRITE DOWN WHAT HE/SHE TELLS YOU.  THEN REPEAT STEP #2 ABOVE.]

 

“Great.  Thank you for helping me get it down the way you wanted.  Now, let’s go back and talk about this time or moment you mentioned, when ________________ [REPEAT THE MOMENT THAT HE/SHE TOLD YOU].  I’m going to keep coming back and asking what might seem to be the same question.  That’s to give you the chance to add to your comments or change them or remember more if you care to.”

 

THOUGHTS/IDEAS/CONCLUSIONS
            3a.  At that time or moment you described, when __________ [REPEAT THE MOMENT THAT HE/SHE TOLD YOU] , did you have any thoughts or ideas or conclusions regarding your experience that were significant or notable to you for any reason?
[IF YES]: What were these thoughts or ideas or conclusions?  [LIST EACH THOUGHT, IDEA, CONCLUSION.  THEN, FOR EACH:]
                        3b. Could you please talk a little bit more about that?   What leads you to these conclusions about your thoughts or ideas?
                                    [KEEP "CHAINING"]

 


FEELINGS/EMOTIONS
            4a. At that time or moment you described, when __________ [REPEAT THE MOMENT THAT HE/SHE TOLD YOU], did you have any feelings or emotions regarding your experience?
[IF YES]: What were these feelings or emotions?  [LIST EACH FEELING OR EMOTION.  THEN, FOR EACH:]
                        4b.  Could you please talk a little bit more about that?   What leads you to this conclusion about this feeling or emotion? 
                                    [KEEP "CHAINING"]

 

QUESTIONS/CONFUSIONS
            5a. At that time or moment you described, when __________ [REPEAT THE MOMENT THAT HE/SHE TOLD YOU], did you have any questions or confusions regarding your experience?
[IF  YES]: What were these questions or confusions?  [LIST EACH QUESTION OR CONFUSION.  THEN, FOR EACH:]
                        5b.  Could you please talk a little bit more about that?   What leads you to this conclusion about your questions or confusions?
                                    [KEEP "CHAINING"]

 

HELPS
            6a. At that time or moment you described, when __________ [REPEAT THE MOMENT THAT HE/SHE TOLD YOU], was there anything that happened or that you encountered or that someone did that was helpful for you in some way? 
[IF  YES]:  What was it?  (Something someone said or did -- whatever).  [LIST EACH HELP.  THEN, FOR EACH:]
                        5b.  How did this help you?  And how did THAT help you?  And how did THAT help you?
                                    [KEEP "CHAINING"]

 

HINDRANCES/PROBLEMS
            7a. At that time or moment you described, when __________ [REPEAT WHAT HE/SHE TOLD YOU], was there anything that happened or that you encountered that hindered you, or hurt you, or got in your way, or was a problem for you in some way? 
[IF YES]: What was it that was a hindrance for you?  (Something someone said or did, an aspect of the web site -- whatever).  [LIST EACH HINDRANCE.  THEN, FOR EACH:]
                        6b.  How was this a hindrance or a problem for you?  And how was THAT a hindrance or a problem for you?  And how was THAT a hindrance or a problem for you?
                                    [KEEP "CHAINING"]

 

MIGHT HAVE HELPED
            8a. At that time or moment you described, when __________ [REPEAT THE MOMENT THAT HE/SHE TOLD YOU], was there anything that MIGHT HAVE helped you or COULD HAVE helped you? 
            [IF YES]: What was it that might have helped you?  [LIST EACH POSSIBLE HELP.  THEN, FOR EACH:]
                        7b.  How would this have helped you?  And how would THAT have helped you?  And how would THAT have helped you?
                                    [KEEP "CHAINING"]


 

LESSON FOR LIFE
            9a.  Let's look back at all of these things you have told me about this period -- the ideas, feelings, questions, helps, and problems you had.  Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
            [IF YES]: What was it that you might consider a lesson for life?  [LIST EACH POSSIBLE HELP.  THEN, FOR EACH:]
                        9b.  Could you please talk a little bit more about that?   What leads you to this conclusion?
                                    [KEEP "CHAINING"]

 

ADDITIONAL
10. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time, when you can remember living in peace with Turkish Cypriot neighbors?

 

PROCESS
11. Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?

 

DEMOGRAPHICS
12.  Occupation: [How would you classify your current work status, job, career, or current life's work – or life’s work in the past?]
13. Age:  [In what year were you born?]
14. Sex:
15. How would you classify your ethnicity [race]?
16. Nationality:
17. Where this person now lives (country and city/town):
18. Where this person lived during the events described during the interview:
19.  Family occupation:  [When you were growing up, what work did the main income earner in your family do -- what kind of place did he or she work at and what kind of job did he or she do?]
20. Any other demographic information you think is important:

 


Previous page. "About Sense-Making."

"From the Memories of Greek Cypriots"

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