This extra credit option is being offered as part of an ongoing assessment of undergraduate learning outcomes at Michigan State University. Participation is voluntary. Students successfully complete all phases of the project correctly and on time may receive up to 30 bonus points. Failure to meet deadlines will result in automatic dismissal and zero points. The final report will be reviewed. Points will be deducted if it fails to meets the criteria set out in Phase 3 below.
The project has three phases
Phase 1. Identify topic. [Must be completed before 10:00 PM on Monday, 13 April 2015]
(1) Identify a topic or concept presented in class and explain why you feel it is important. For example, the impact of globalization on employment and wages. Then you must develop five clear research questions based on that topic that you can investigate using a peer interview format.
(2) Prepare a 200 to 300 word statement and submit it to the D2L drop box before 10:00 PM on Monday, 13 April. No exceptions. No excuses.
Phase 2. Peer Interviews
(1) Conduct two peer interviews with students who are not enrolled in this section of ISS 315. The interviews should last about 10 minutes. They do not need to be recorded but you should take notes. REM in this exercise, the dynamics of the interview process are as important as information you might gain from the interview.

(1) Using the information from these interviews, write a 500 to 700 word essay that
a. explains how the questions you asked in the interviews are intended to generate evidence about your research question.
b. reflects on the interview process itself and your role as interviewer. What did you take into consideration about the context of the interview? (For example, the nationality, age and gender of your interviewee. Your relationship with the interviewee.)
c. describes an instance where you used an interview strategy (verbal or nonverbal) to continue the interview and better answer your research question. For example, posing the question then waiting for the person to fill in the silence or giving visual or verbal cues to encourage the person to keep speaking without indicating agreement or disagreement that might influence his or her response.
The purpose of this exercise to assess your ability to communicate with your informant as much as it is with the information garnered in the interview. So be sure to describe the interview itself in detail.