conduct a fake multicultural interview

two weeks ago, you learned about global dimensions of education. Last week, you have learned about goals of multicultural education (Chapter 1). Later on, we explore economic, political, and social contexts of multicultural education. We will also examine the websites with multicultural resources. Hopefully, you are familar with the major multicultural concepts. It is time to apply your knowledge in the practical context. Your assignment is to interview the person representing a different culture (in person, via phone/ Internet/Skype) The use of cross-cultural interviews is a good way to bring the world full of extraordinary people into our classroom. Interviewing people could become your future educational research tool. You might want to interview people formally and informally to get the insider knowledge of the new field/issue/dilemma. The unique value of interviews stem from the connecting with the real world in a meaningful and enjoyable way. So have fun with this task!

How do you conduct a multicultural interview?

I would like you to act as an educational researcher. Let's begin with the term research. Research is the formal, systematic application of the scientific and disciplined inquiry approach to the study of problems. Educational research is the systematic application of a family of methods employed to provide trustworthy information about educational problems, issues, and topics. The fundamental purpose of educational research is to increase our understanding of educational processes and practices. In education and social science, researchers rely both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative research methods are based on the collection and analysis of numerical data. Qualitative research methods, popular in education, are based on the collection and analysis of nonnumerical data such as observations, interviews, focus groups, and videotaping. Interviewing people is a qualitative research technique that involves conducting intensive individual interviews with the selected participants (in our case, with global leaders). An interview is a purposeful interaction between two or more people focused on one person trying to get information from the other person. Interviews range from open-ended and spontaneous to closed-ended and prescribed. For novice researchers, it is easier to conduct structures interviews than less structures ones. Structured interviews contain the ready-to-use and prepared in advance questions to be asked in the interview. For our interview assignment, I would like to to consider partially-structured, semi-structured or structured interviews. In a partially-structured interview, area is chosen and questions are formulated but you can add or modify your questions as you go. In a semi-structured interview, quations and order of your presentations are determined and questions have open-ends. In a structured interview, questions and order are predetermined, and responses are recorded as they are given. So please select your favorite interview type carefully and design you questions accordingly. My advice is to go for the type that suits your personality and your skills. If you are good at improvising.... go for the partially-structure interview. If you prefer to have the order and proven sequence please consider the structured interview.

You can collect data from interviews using several techniques:

1. Taking notes during or after interview

2. Recording your interview 

3. Videotyping your interview

4. Using an email script of your online conversation  

Guidelines for Interviewing

· Listen more, talk less. Listening is the most important part of interviewing.

· Follow up on what the global leaders say and ask questions when you don't understand.

· Avoid leading questions; ask open-ended question.

· Don't interrupt. Learn how to wait.

· Keep the participant focused and ask for concrete details.

· Tolerate silence. It means that the participant is thinking.

· Don't be judgemental about the participant's views or beliefs. You are there to learn about their perspectives, whether you agree with them or not.  

Step 1

1. Please go to the textbook and examine the Figure 1.2 (Multiple Group Membership). Please try to get to know your special person. Ask questions related to the major dimensions of cultural identities such as: nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, age, occupation, religion, sexual orientations, special abilities/talents, disabilities, special interests/hobbies, and personalities. 

 

 

Step 2

Please complete the folowing items during Step 2:

1. Try to contact your interviewee and schedule a meeting ahead of time. You need to select your means of interviewing. Thank to technological advances you can select several options for your interview. You can schuele a meeting in person, or you can interview the person using Internet, Skype or videoconferencing. Set the meeting in motion by introducting yourself as a graduate student with the task of conducting  a multicultural interview for your class. Reassure the interviee that you will keep the interview short. Researchers should follow the guidelines regarding confidentiality. You will have a choice to use the recording tools appropriate for your setting. If your interview is in person, please record the conversation and prepare the trascript. If your interview is via email, please keep the email letters with the interview. If your interview is via Skype please take notes or record the answers. Ask for the permission to use the real name in the interview records. Wrap up the interview within 30 minutes. Please thank your interviewee for his/her time and efforts. You can also write a short thank you letter.

2. I encourage you to reach your person via Skype. As an interviewer, you will have the luxury of conducting the interview anywhere you please. Don't operate under the assumption that executing a Skype interview is just like video chatting with a friend. Just like a traditional setting, you set the standard and the pace for the interview. This is a live interview and even though its being conducted via webcam, you should be as prepared as if that person was in front of you. Whatever technology you decide to implement, if it is Skype or another technology, make sure ahead of time that you are comfortable coducting online interviews. If you are conducting a webcom interview, make sure that it is a secure, solid broadband connection. Think about your location before starting your interview. you really need a very quiet environment without interruptions and distractions. Make sure you are in a well-lit room. Keep you background clean without clutter. In the case of international recording please remeber about different time zones. One of the benefits of conducting Skype interviews is having the option of recording them. When you first set up your skype account, there is not a direct recording option but there are several plugins that are compatible with Skype. A popular plugin is Vodburner, which records video and audio from both sides and also allow you to edit it and upload the content electronically.

3.  After you interview you will prepare the tape/video/trascripts of your interview and deliver to the instructor electronically in September. After February 14th, the instructor will listen/read your interview tanscripts provided you with a feedback. Please make sure that your interview questions are clearly presented, interesting, and relavant. The quality of your questions will be a basis for evaluation. Also, your ability to interact with the interviewee will be taken into account. We will evaluate the scope and relevance of the information that you obtained from your global leader. The maximum score for the multicultural interview is 10  extra points.