Turkish Cypriot Ethnographies:
Protocol for Depth Interview
using Sense-Making Methodology (1996)

[About Sense-Making. The interview theory and methodology used for this interview protocol.]
[About the class that started this project in 1996.]

 

Instructions to Interviewers
You are going to ask your interviewee to talk about events they witnessed, or took part in, in 1 of the following time periods:
  1. Pleasant experiences with Greek neighbors;
  2. Between 1963 and 1974;
  3. During the 1974 war;
  4. During the 1974 forced migration; or
  5. After 1974, living in the TRNC.

Here is an example of the wording you might use, depending on the topic your participant is discussing:
"Think back to an experience you had that is an example of:

  1. "Your pleasant memories with your Greek neighbors in the past."
  2. "Your life in Cyprus between 1963 and 1974."
  3. "Your life in Cyprus during the 1974 war."
  4. "Your life in Cyprus during the time in 1974 when you moved from your home to where you live now."
  5. "Your life in North Cyprus after 1974."
"What is that experience you had -- what happened?"

Probing the Responses:
After your participant describes the experience, ask questions to follow up his or her story -- probe his or her responses. The idea is to get your informant to talk about their experiences in depth. You might try these follow-up questions:

1a. Did you have any thoughts or ideas or conclusions at that time? What were these thoughts or ideas or conclusions?


2a. Did you have any feelings or emotions at that time? What were these feelings or emotions?

3a. Did you have any questions or confusions at this time? What were these questions or confusions?


4a. Was there anything that happened during this time that was helpful for you? What was it? (Something someone said or did -- whatever).
5a. Was there anything that happened during this time that hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow? What was it? (Something someone said or did -- whatever).
6a. Was there anything during this time that MIGHT HAVE helped you or COULD HAVE helped your? What was it?
7a. During this time period, was there anything special that stands out in your mind about the media (radio, television, newspapers, etc.) or the way media was used in your family or by your friends? What was it that stands out in your mind about the media during this time period?
8. 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?" What is that "lesson for life?"

9. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?

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

DEMOGRAPHICS
11. Occupation (or life's work):
12. Age:
13. Sex:
14. Nationality:
15. Where this person now lives (country and city/town/village):
16. Where this person lived during the events described during the interview:
17. What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when this person was growing up:
18. Any other demographic information you think is important:

Previous page. "About Sense-Making."

"From the Memories of Turkish Cypriots"

top