Carrying Out Interviews

This week I will begin to carry out my one-on-one interviews for my inquiry. I must admit - I'm a little nervous. Thoughts keep swirling around my head that I need to ask the 'right' questions in order to get the best possible answers from my candidates. However, I know that this is not the point of these interviews. The main point is to LISTEN to what my candidates have to say and to their stories. As this is a qualitative study, there really is no such this as a 'right' or 'wrong' answer therefore there is no such this as the 'right' or 'wrong' question. Bearing all this in mind, I want do want to acknowledge my ethical duties at the interviewer. As my inquiry topic has to do with Identity and Disability politics, I need to ensure that my questions are respectful. From the research I have done on interviews here are the top things I am currently doing to ensure I conduct a successful interview:


1. Be prepared. Having done scrupulous research into the topic, as well as the candidate and their experiences. For each candidate I have prepared a list of different questions - some are generic questions and others are specifically tailored to their experiences.

2. Listen. Try to focus in. Don't be thinking of the next question while the candidate is still talking as you may miss vital information. Use the answers the candidates give as the jumping off point for further questions.

3. Follow-Up. By listening to what the candidate is saying, follow-up on any interesting points they may bring up that require further explanation.

4. Read the "intangibles". Take note of physical and verbal cues given by the candidate when telling their story. This brings through the very 'human' aspect to the conversation. If you can see they are nervous, unsure or uncomfortable it could be beneficial to steer the conversation in a different way or rephrase the question. Similarly, read when they are passionate and use to carry the conversation on further.

5. Don't step on their answer. Try not to interrupt - give the candidate the time they deserve to answer the question (I feel as though this ties in with listening). Also do not try to anticipate their answer, or steer them in a way that makes them want to change their point of view.

It is always important to make the candidate feel comfortable. This will ensure they give genuine answers.

These are just some general points I have come up with leading into my interviews. I will be doing another post after the interviews to share any other things I picked up whilst actively conducting the conversations.

I pass the question off to you - do you think there is anything missing off of my list for conducting interviews?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDOQBPYEaNs

Identity Politics - Module 3 Skype Call 11/02/2020

During our Module 3 Skype call on Tuesday evening, we touched a range of topics from where we are at within starting Module 3 to the interview process.

It seems that both of our topics seem to cover Identity Politics in some way or form. My topic is exploring the relationship between theatre and the social skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Part of my feedback from module 2 was to explore more of the wider-community's ethical considerations. This has lead me to researching into Disability Politics. Through our chat on Tuesday, it evolved from Disability Politics to Identity Politics.

In a nutshell Identity Politics is the demand for recognition and respect of their dignity from minority groups. It is the acknowledgement that it is society, not the individual, that needs to change it's culture. (Francis Fukuyama, 2018)

I feel as though Identity Politics and Disability Politics go hand-in-hand, as both revolve around the fact that there is a dire need for societal change around they way disabled people are treated and viewed and that simply, they deserve recognition and respect for their differences. I think it comes down to the fact that they should be included instead of being tolerated. In the case of my inquiry, theatre shows should be evolved around accessibility, instead of adding it as an afterthought.

Although this is a short post, I would be interested to know how Identity Politics plays a role in your inquiry or practice, and any thoughts you can add.

Below is a link to a talk given by Professor and Author Francis Fukuyama on Identity Politcs. Although his talk is related to actual politics in the United Stated and Britain, the core of what he is saying still resonates. The first 15 minutes of the talk are purely focused on the meaning and definition of Identity Politics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxLHDHJV-_8&t=1111s

Stage 1 of the Inquiry Process

Inquiry Topic: Exploring the relationship between theatre and the social interactive skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

The first stage of the inquiry process is to review the planning undertaken from Module 2, taking into account any feedback and amendments suggested. 

I was encouraged to focus more on the wider ethical considerations of my inquiry topic. Questions I would like to research further in order to gain a deeper understanding of the 'greater community' include: 

• How we understand other people's experiences
• Disability politics and identifying if those considered 'disabled' want to be considered 'normal' 
• When did 'disability' become an identifier? When does ASD become an identifier? 
• The history of ASD 
• How ASD is viewed by different cultures

Throughout the inquiry process I hope to use literature, the Skype discussions and these blog posts to explore each of these questions to gain deeper understanding. 

To just scratch the surface on the research I intend to do surrounding these questions, I watched a video released by BuzzFeed titled, "Things People with Disabilities Wish You Knew". In the video they interview four women with varying disabilities, asking their opinions on issues they seem to encounter every day. Here is a link to the video if you are interested in watching: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b7k6pEnyQ4

While the whole video is interesting and presented in a light-hearted way, two quotes really stuck out for me and interested me to do further research, and they were: 

"It's more about normalising disability than celebrating it" (Pamela) 

And 

"It took me a while to be able to call myself a 'person with a disability'. I'm a person first." (Eman)

I would really be interested to hear any thoughts you have on any of the questions I intend to further research this module and what you think of the video!