Field Project Assignment: 5 Stages
Stage 1 A. Choose one of the following options 1. Single in-depth interview(s) with one person preferably off campus, a non-student * Minimum total of 1 ½ -2 hours * Minimum interview session: 30 minutes 2. Interviews with two or more people but performed one-at-a-time * Minimum total of 2 hours * Minimum length of any portion of an interview: 30 minutes B. Choose your topic:
Career Related: Interview people currently working in the field you intend to enter following graduation. You could choose to interview an entry level person and one or two people who have had more experience. You might want to know techniques for breaking into the field, what the job would entail on a day to day basis, trends, challenges, typical career paths, etc.
Problem Solving: Talk to counselors on/off campus to identify ways to approach solving a personal dilemma or challenge (e.g., whether or not to go to grad' school, study abroad, change majors, start a business, quit drinking, smoking), or check with a social worker or city official who deal with real-life daily problems that require workable solutions.
Class Related: Tie in the interviews you conduct for this class with another class project. You will still need to do the post analysis to conform to the expectations for this class, but at least the time interviewing as part of gathering material for your research will be doubly productive. In the past, for example, students have looked at assessing the experiences of hearing impaired students on campus, differing management styles of supervisors, and what court appointed special advocates (CASA) do.
Personal Interest: Do you have a topic about which you're just interested in finding out more information? One student interviewed a friend in prison to find out what it was really like, lessons learned, etc. Is there an organization you've considered joining, like Habitat for Humanity? Are you considering traveling somewhere you've never been?
Family History: Use this assignment as an opportunity to record those stories that may be lost in your family if no one takes the time to ask the right questions. Interview grandparents &/or parents about the interesting things that should be remembered beyond just dates and places. How did they meet? What was their home life like? What was the education like they received? What were their favorite activities growing up? What was dating/courting like? Who is the weirdest person in the family? What are they proudest about? What regrets do they have? Why did they choose their career area(s)? Have they ever done anything else? Have they served in the armed forces? etc. etc. etc.
BRAINSTORM! Consider the following: Neighbors, managers, personnel directors counselors, journalists, police officers, sales reps, pastors, social workers, grandparents, …there are so many interesting people with wonderful stories and experiences to tell! Be curious and learn!

C. Do any necessary research before the interview in order to ask better questions: * Is there any background information about the topic with which you need to become familiar in order to ask effective, well-informed questions? * Who are the key players, and what are the issues you need to be aware of and able to identify? * Is there any information about your interviewee(s) that you need to explore?

Stage 2: Project Proposal (25 pt./200). Due Thursday, Sept. 17

* 1-2 page typed, 1" margins, double-spaced. * The process is sequential; that is, you must have approval for stage 2 before moving on to stage 3. * Contact your interviewee(s) ASAP. Interviews must be face-to-face. No phone interviews. * Consider alternative plans in case there are problems. What is your Plan B?

Each of the following areas should be covered in your proposal:

* Explain which option (see Stage 1 above) you have chosen, your general topic, and how you plan to allocate the 1 1/2- to 2-hour time. * Explain who you plan to interview (at least a generic description if you do not yet know who). * Explain your motivation for interviewing this person and how you hope to use the information. For example, are you including this as research for another class project, collecting the information for your own career development, enriching your understanding of your own family heritage, etc. * Describe when and where you plan to conduct the interview(s). * Describe any possible “glitches” (problems that could arise in terms of time, distance, availability of interviewee, etc.) and your plan “B” if one of these occurs. * Print up and turn in the grade sheet for the Field Project Proposal posted on Blackboard. Notice that it provides a rubric of the requirements listed above. Turn this sheet in with the proposal. * Hand in all material related to this project in a pocket folder with your name on the outside. Your graded proposal will be returned to you in the folder. Please keep all materials related to the project in the folder so that it can all be turned in together with your final report of the project.

Stage 3: Interview Proposed Agenda (50 pts./200). Due Thursday, October 1

1. Think through your topics and subtopics. Are they well-planned and strategically prioritized? Provide typed interview agendas for each unique interview (if doing more than one) 2. Include an appropriate opening with reminders to yourself of things your plan to include (e.g., greeting, rapport-building statements/questions, orientation to timeframe and topics) 3. Make sure each main topic in the body is easily recognized by a primary question.
Subtopics under each main topic should have possible probes with the understanding that new or unexpected probes might be added during the interview as you remain flexible to the flow of the interview. 4. Include a closing with appropriate reminders of things to include (e.g., appreciation, contact info, etc.) 5. Make sure the agenda is the appropriate length for the time planned.

Note: The agenda is not set in stone, but it is to be expectations of topics and subtopics you might cover.

* Bring a hard copy of your Field Proposal Agenda to class with a copy of the gradesheet. It because it provides a rubric of the requirements listed above. Stage 4: Conduct the Interview(s)

* No phone interviews allowed. You can check for permission for use of Skype. * You may not interview two or more people simultaneously. You do not want one person answering for another. * One purpose of this assignment is to give you a more real-life experience with a lengthy interview, so make sure you have a good plan in place for recording the information. If you would like to record the interview (audio and/or video) make sure the interviewee is in agreement. * Make sure you are familiar with your schedule of questions and leave plenty of room for note taking even if you are recording the interview. Jot down any questions you add in the course of the interview so that you can report and explain those added probes in Stage 5, your final report. Cross out any questions you decide not to ask and after the interview make a note in your schedule of questions as to why you did not ask those questions (e.g., already answered, N/A, etc.). * Send a thank you note to your interviewee(s) as soon after the interview as possible.

Stage 5: Prepare the Field Project Final Report (Due Tuesday, November 24 or before)

1. Provide your schedule of questions which should have the notes you took during the interview. * You should cross out any questions you planned to ask but didn’t with a brief explanation as to why. * Place in brackets any questions you added during the interview but had not planned to ask (unplanned probes). 2. Write an analysis of your field project that demonstrates your understanding and application of course concepts. Use specific examples to support your responses. Several of these should be ½ page in length. You should address the following issues: a. Who you interviewed and why; what research was needed in preparation. b. Explain what opening techniques you used and why. c. How you recorded information and why. d. Describe the location of the interview and the effect the environment had on the interview. e. Describe the communication that occurred in terms of depth, relationship, etc. f. Describe any unforeseen problems that occurred and how you handled them. g. Explain who had the control the interview. Did it ever change? h. Describe whether you developed rapport and maintained it throughout the interview or if you felt that it was ever problematic. i. Explain what closing techniques you used and why. j. What three things did you learn about interviewing principles and practices. Give specific examples and use course terminology. k. Explain some things you would do differently if you were to do this project over.

3. Write a summary of the information you received from your interviewee(s). This should be at least 1 ½-2 pages in length (but can be longer).

This final report should be at least 6-7 pages long (double-spaced, 1” margins, 12 font) excluding your schedule of questions.

4. Upload your final report (the analysis and summary) to Safe Assign on Blackboard. 5. Proofread! 6. Hand in the final report with the proposal, guide and final schedule in your folder.
On the final class day of the semester you will be asked to speak to the class about your experience doing the field project. It will be an informal sharing of experiences, with each person speaking for 2 minutes or so. It will be worth 10 points of the miscellaneous points.