Duke University Media and Technology Interview & Reflection Essay The goal of these interviews is to explore how people you know use and think about media

Duke University Media and Technology Interview & Reflection Essay The goal of these interviews is to explore how people you know use and think about media technologies. How it works: This assignment has two parts: an interview and a reflection. – Before you start, think about who you want to interview. Ask yourself: – Is this person available for an interview? – Is it safe to speak with them? (Don’t forget that we’re in the midst of a pandemic!) – Do they really want to talk about media use? (For an interview like this, it’s a good idea to find a willing participant.) – What are the chances that I will learn something new from this person? (You never know what you will learn in advance, but it is worth considering. After all, the more similar a person is to you, the less likely it is (in general) that you will learn something new or unexpected.) – Plan the interview. – Where will you hold the interview, and how? – If the interview will be in person (unlikely), think about how you can maintain distance while having a conversation. – If the interview will be electronically mediated (more likely), think about the tools you will use (Video? Audio? Text?) and the requirements of those tools (e.g., a solid internet connection, a quiet space to have a conversation). – How will you record the interview? – You do not have to record the interview, but a record will allow you to immerse yourself in the conversation and make it easier to complete the second part of the assignment, reflecting on the interview. – If speaking in person or via telephone, you might record audio. Video recording can be done on applications like Skype and Zoom. Text (e.g., an email exchange) is the easiest for you but the most work for your interviewee. – If you do record your interviewee, make sure to tell them beforehand. Many people are uncomfortable being recorded. – Plan your questions. (More on this below.) – Ask ahead. By giving your interviewee at least a few days advanced warning, you show that you value their time. Of course, if they are happy to do the interview immediately, go for it! – Hold the interview. – Aim for a 20-30 minute discussion. – Interviewing is a surprisingly difficult task, even when talking to someone you know well, like a friend or family member. Being recorded can make things feel especially awkward. – This is very unlikely, but if you or your interviewee feels uncomfortable, end the interview. There is no need to damage a relationship for this assignment. – Most important: the best interviews are fundamentally conversations. – You don’t need to act or speak in a formal way. Be polite while being yourself. – Remember that another person has interesting and valuable experiences that you want to learn about. Furthermore, most people are happy to share them and are often flattered that you would ask. – It is advisable to prepare a list of questions in advance, but use your questions as a guide (rather than as a script). If your conversation moves away from the questions, that’s fine! – Asking the same questions to both interviewees can provide for some interesting comparisons of their answers. Conversely, be attentive to your interviewees’ answers and open to asking “follow-up” questions that you hadn’t prepared or expected to ask. – After listening to a response, you can also follow up by asking your interviewee for an expansion or clarification. – Avoid asking questions with a yes/no answer. Consider your questions to be prompts for them, more than direct questions. The more open-ended your questions are, the more freedom you provide your interviewee to tell you something unexpected and uniquely personal. At the same time, specific guidance can be helpful for interviewees, especially toward the beginning of interviews before they “loosen up.” You might consider asking them to describe a particularly memorable encounter or experience, or the first time the remember using a particular technology. – There are several ways to get a conversation back on track without being rude. You might say things like: – “That’s really cool. I want to come back to that, but first I wanted to ask about …” – “This makes me think about …” – Feel free to mix up the question order, or to skip questions that are redundant. Asking the same question repeatedly is a good way to bore or frustrate your interviewee. – Don’t forget to thank your interviewee for their time, even if you’re speaking with family or friends. – Consolidate and reflect. – This is the second part of the assignment, which you will write up and submit to the Assignments Folder on the Sakai site no later than Thursday, May 28th. It contains three parts: – First, describe some of your findings. Did you learn anything surprising, interesting, or funny? Remember that what is not said can also be of interest. (2-3 paragraphs) – Second, use some of the concepts discussed in class to make sense of your discoveries. (2-3 paragraphs) – Third, briefly consider how you might follow up on your interview. If you were to speak with your interviewee again, what more would you like to learn? (1-2 paragraphs) Sample Interview Questions Here are some questions that you might ask. Feel free to modify these questions and/or add a few of your own. For instance, you might specify particular types of MT (e.g., smart phone; social media) or particular platforms (e.g., Zoom, Instagram). – On media technologies (MT) – What does “media technology” mean to you? – When you think about MT, what comes to mind? – Do you have a favorite MT? What is it, and why? – On media use – Which MT do you use? – How often do you use them? – Why do you use MTs? – How do you think your life would differ with different media? – On comparative media use – How is your use of MTs different from those of your parents/friends/kids/coworkers? – Do you know someone who uses MT differently? What are those differences? What do you think about them? – On historical comparative media use – How does your use of MTs differ now compared to when you were a child/teen? – What media did you use when growing up? What was it like? – How is today’s mediated world different? Do you think the changes are a good/bad thing? – On media feelings and opinions – Are there any particular problems related to MT in our society? What are they? – If you could change any one thing about MT, what would it be and why?