List
of questions to be asked
My
intention for this research project (regardless how late this project
is), is to examine the behaviors of people who send and receive text
messages, and find if a variance exists in texting adults towards in
regards to the practice of texting over SMS, and instant messaging.
I
intend to approach at least interview four people and ask the
questions below:
1.
How many times do you text on the phone on a given day?
2.
Are your texts usually short, or are they long?
3.
Do you text more than you call? If so, why? When you are
on your computer, and you're talking to people over the Internet, do
you prefer to use instant messaging or videoconferencing services
such as Skype? If you prefer one over the other, why?
4.
If you could estimate, how many do you receive in a week?
5.
Do you text in the same 'style' with everyone in your contact list?
For example, would you text in short, abbreviated sentences
versus longer messages, depending on who you are talking to?
Would you say your 'style' changes depending who you text?
6.
What are your favorite words,acronyms and abbreviations? Do you
prefer to use abbreviations, or do you have a preference for writing
fuller sentences? Why?
Interview Transcript #1 (NOTE:
This interview does not use the standard questions. This interview
was recorded on audio media)
Interview Conducted on April 16,
2014. The subject interviewed was a female college student in her
20’s.
Q: How many times do you text on the
phone on a given day?
A: Um, probably about 40 texts 50
texts....I don't text a lot...a lot of people
Q: Are you texts usually short, or
are they long?
A: They're usually short.
Q:Favorite choice of words?
A: Um, LOL...LMAO *laughs*
Q: Okay, so would you say when you
text people, would you say your language (or style) changes depending
on who you're texting to, say for example, coworkers, family members,
friends?
A: To a friend? Yeah it does change. I
would use less abbreviations when addressing coworkers or my boss.
Q: I see. Aside from that, how many
text messages would you receive, say, on a given week?
A: I'd say about 200-300 texts.
Q: Alright....and how long would you
say these texts are? Are they usually one sentence in length, or
more?
A: They're usually quick little things,
no more than one sentence.
*NOTE:
My questions for Interview 1 are not consistent with the list of
questions designed for the research protocol. I will acknowledge this
error in the limitations section of the research essay.
Interview #2 Summarized Points
(NOTE: THIS INTERVIEW WAS NOT RECORDED ON AUDIO/VIDEO MEDIA, IT
WAS TRANSCRIBED ON PAPER BY MEMORIZATION, THEREFORE ANSWERS TO THE
QUESTIONS ARE REPORTED IN THE THIRD PERSON, AND IS NOT VERBATIM)
Interview Conducted April 26 2014.
The subject interviewed was a male postgraduate student in his 20’s.
1. How many
times do you text on the phone on a given day?
When questioned,
the interviewee reported making a dozen texts per day.
2. Are your
texts usually short, or are they long?
When questioned,
the interviewee reported that his texts were brief in length. The
interviewee reported that he did not use much acronyms when texting,
and did not have a particular
3. Do you
text more than you call? If so, why? When you are on your
computer, and you're talking to people over the Internet, do you
prefer to use instant messaging or videoconferencing services such as
Skype? If you prefer one over the other, why?
When questioned
about preferring calls vs. text, the interviewee reported preferring
to call his friends over the phone, especially when talking with
friends when they are watching the same TV show. He felt that phone
calls were better than texting because he could understand and listen
better because he could listen to the changes in voice intonations,
and thus had a better understanding of the tone and emotion of who he
spoke to. When questioned about preferring instant text messaging
vs. videoconferencing software, the interviewee reported preferring
videoconferencing software such as Skype. He felt when
videoconferencing on Skype, that “It’s like you’re in the room
with them”.
4. If you
could estimate, how many do you receive in a week?
When questioned,
the interviewee reported receiving an average of 60 texts per week,
receiving more especially when his friends were watching the same
television show at the same time.
5. Do you
text in the same 'style' with everyone in your contact list? For
example, would you text in short, abbreviated sentences versus longer
messages depending on who you were talking to? Would you say
your 'style' changes depending who you text?
When questioned,
the interviewee reported that his 'style' of texting does not change
much, regardless if the recipient of the text messages are friends,
co-workers, or employers. The only that varies is the subject matter
of the text.
6. What are
your favorite words, acronyms and abbreviations? Do you prefer
to use abbreviations, or do you have a preference for writing fuller
sentences? Why?
When questioned, the subject preferred
not using abbreviations.
Interview Transcript #3
Subject is a male college student in
his 20’s
1. How many
times do you text on the phone on a given day?
“On a day?
About 15 to 20”.
2. Are your
texts usually short, or are they long?
“Short, the
shorter the better, no one wants to read long text, you want to make
sure you’re putting in exactly what you want to say or want to
know.”
3. Do you
text more than you call? If so, why? When you are on your
computer, and you're talking to people over the Internet, do you
prefer to use instant messaging or videoconferencing services such as
Skype? If you prefer one over the other, why?
When the
interviewee was asked about communicating over computer he had this
to say:
“Text, in that
case is easier; the emailing response time is too long, you’ll end
up checking the phone more often
On calling vs.
texting:
“I
prefer calling; it’s clearer, and easier to understand someone when
you hear them.”
On Skype:
“Well,
I’ve only used Skype a couple of times, one was for an interview;
was easier for us since the guy in the interview was in California,
for a position; it really saves traveling costs, but I’m still
talking to the other guy face to face, I like Skype..I like Skype, I
think it’s a good program for people to communicate, especially
when distance is an issue, I’ve actually used it once when playing
Starcraft believe it or not, but...I don't really use Skype that
much.
4. If you
could estimate, how many do you receive in a week?
“About a
week’s worth?, I’d have to say about a 100.”
5. Do you
text in the same 'style' with everyone in your contact list? For
example, would you text in short, abbreviated sentences versus longer
messages, depending on who you are talking to? Would you say
your 'style' changes depending who you text?
Variation? Yes
there is. It’s kinda hard, because I’m a English major, so I
want all my stuff to be kind of correct when I send it, but with
quick texts, I do it fast, I abbreviate certain things, it depends on
my audience. If I’m especially addressing a professor or someone
from work, it’s formal, everything is spelled correctly, etc, so I
could be perceived more seriously
6. What
are your favorite words,acronyms and abbreviations? Do you
prefer to use abbreviations, or do you have a preference for writing
fuller sentences? Why?
Interviewee gives the same answer as
Question 2. He believes shorter texts are better for the sake of
clarity.
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