In conjunction with textbook chapters, you will be expected to interview three different
individuals from three different generations or age groups. The function of the interviews which is
an experiential exercise is to prepare you for breadth of opinions, attitudes, and hesitancies about
sex and gender you will experience as a professional. Gaining experience and confidence will both
enhance your papers and strengthen you developmentally as a future helping professional. In the
paper, the interweaving of your interview and course content will be expected. Ideally, a balance
between your interviewee’s experiences and course content should unfold.
o I am seeking IRB approval (needed to conduct interviews/research) and doing the actual
interviews will have to wait until we have received approval.
o In accordance with IRB approval, please note that all interviewees must be over the age of
18, otherwise you will fail the entire project.
o Before you do conduct your interviews, construct, and submit for approval four questions that you
would be interested in learning more about. While you may use 1 or 2 of the below example
questions, you will need to expand and create your own! For example, in previous semesters of
PSYC 261, these were some questions asked.
Question One In comparison to baby boomers, what effect have social media and technology had on millennials’ and Gen Z’s sexual norms and behaviors?
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Question Two What should be covered in sex education and how do various generations feel about its importance?
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Question Three How have perceptions of partnerships and casual dating changed across different generations?
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Question Four How has Gen Z’s acceptance and comprehension of LGBTQ+ identities evolved from that of baby boomers?
o Your paper for this assignment should include or express the following:
1. A confidential description of the interviewee and the setting or environment for the interview.
In other words, the interviewee description cannot identify the person or give sufficient details to10
deduce the person. For example, married middle aged women living with husband and family in
large metropolitan city. She is a college educated professional working outside the home. The
interview was conducted during the early evening hours over zoom when the interviewee was
alone. Brevity and generality with some degree of specificity so the audience can “get a feel” for
the person is the goal.
2. Your specific questions (exactly as you worded them) woven into the paper, the participant’s
responses (the responses can be paraphrased; you do not necessarily have to transcribe them word
for word) and an analysis of the responses.
3. Your paper should have at least 4-6 pages: introduction, several paragraphs related to
your four questions, and a conclusion. The introduction should explore your interest or
motivation for the questions. In each of the “question paragraphs, your thoughts or analysis of the
generational differences is expected. In the conclusion, you should specifically address what you
learned or your overall insights from comparing and contrasting the different generational
responses.
4. Minimally cite and reference the textbook. No citations and references are required if you
wrote your own questions. Citations and references are required if you utilized the intellectual
property of someone else.
o This assignment will be completed in phases or stages.
- Week 1. Make a list of the questions that you intend to ask. Commonly interviewers get
nervous or sidetracked during an interview and forget to ask key questions. Therefore,
constructing the questions ahead of time to have a specific format or sequence would be ideal or
conducive to a successful interview.
- Week 3: Submit the questions to the instructor for approval and begin to make a list of
potential interviewees. After the questions are approved, then contact the interviewee to
determine if they are agreeable/comfortable answering the questions. Approval of the questions is
worth 10 points.
- Weeks 5, 6, 7 & 8: Conduct the face to face interviews. Do not email the questions or call the
person on the phone. Best practice is to have face to face conversations. But you may use Skype,
Teams, or Zoom. Please remember that an hour conversation with each interviewee (a total of 3
hours) is the goal. A discussion and exploration should entail. The following are suggestions or
tips:
Must interview someone from each of the following generation categories: Young (18-35),
Middle (36 to 64), Older (65+). Again, please note that if you interview anyone under the
age of 18 you will fail the assignment and therefore the class.
Make sure you have your questions with you or in front of you if you are video calling.
Again, do not email the questions and ask the person to respond in writing. Emailed questions
are not an interview.
Double check with your interviewee their understanding of the purpose of the interview and
their agreement to answer the questions. Inform the interviewee that they can decline a
question or terminate the interview at any time. Please remember that at the core, this is a
research project, and no one can be forced to participate.
Sometimes the interviewee might veer away from a direct answer to a question, or volunteer
information you did not ask for. Be flexible and allow them to explain. Such spontaneous11
revelations can be very insightful. After all, no matter how good your questions are, it is the
interviewee who knows how applicable their knowledge is to the question.
If you heard a hint to something that might be interesting draw out more details with further
questions, even if you have not prepared them ahead of time.
People commonly use some sort of recording device during the interview. This is a good idea
if you have access to one. Just make sure ask permission from the interviewee before you
turn it on. I recommend asking permission ahead of time, for example, when you schedule or
confirm the time of the interview.
If you are using a recording device test it before the interview.
If an answer to a question is unclear, ask for clarification. Be sensitive, though. If your
interviewee shows signs of being uncomfortable, do not force the topic or question.