Monday, October 17, 2011

#6: Qualitative Research Questions

For these questions I am going to interview my mom, Michelle, an older cohort that can represent the generation that was not familiar with the internet, and my girlfriend, Ashley, a 18 year old who is very knowledgeable about the internet and technology.  

John’s Questions:

1. If you have used YouTube all your life, have you noticed any changes over time?

    Michelle: The first time i ever used YouTube was about a year ago. I 
accessed it by “googling” something (I had seen a stand-up comedy video in a training class at work and I was interested to see it again). I only use it occasionally to see videos. I notice lately that when you are waiting for the video to download, you have to view an advertisement.

    Ashley: I haven't used YouTube all my life, but I started using it a few years ago. Over the past few years I haven't noticed any major changes, except maybe that there are more features
and so much more people are using it by posting videos and also viewing them. YouTube is being used by people more and more each year.

2. What are the many ways you use YouTube?

    Michelle: I mostly use YouTube to watch news related videos and historical archived information as a teaching aid when I help my son study.

    Ashley: I mainly use YouTube to listen to music.

3. Do any of your parent’s have feelings about YouTube?

    Michelle: No, my parents don’t know how to use a computer and never heard of YouTube.

    Ashley: My mom likes to use YouTube to listen to music, but my dad doesn't use it and doesn't even really know how to use it.

4. When you go onto YouTube, what is the main type of information/entertainment you search for?

    Michelle: I mostly go on YouTube to watch news. Also, sometimes I use it to explain things to my son, Angel, when he has questions about something he learned in school (5th Grade). For example, for his summer reading, he had to read a biography. He chose JFK. As he became more interested in his life, we watched some videos on YouTube, such as excerpts from his famous speeches, and his assassination.  

    Ashley: The main type of entertainment that I search for is music. Once in a while I will search on YouTube to explain something more in depth for me about something that I learned in school that I didn't understand very well.

5. Do you use your mobile smart phone to go on YouTube?

    Michelle: No, I do not have a cell phone, but I have seen co-workers use their mobile phone to show me silly videos of people singing at work, and practical jokes.

    Ashley: Yes, I use my mobile phone to go on YouTube sometimes. Most of the time I use my laptop.

6. At what age do you think you will stop using Facebook or do you feel left out if you don't?

    Michelle: I have never used Facebook because I don’t know how to. I would like to join because several alumni friends of mine from grammar school have told me they were looking for my profile and couldn't find one.

    Ashley: As of now, I would feel left out if I stopped using Facebook. But in the future I might stop using it if it starts to become less popular and people gradually stopped using it. If that happens, then I wouldn't have a reason to continue to use it.

7. Have you noticed any changes within yourself from when you first started using the internet?

    Michelle: Yes, I am slowly becoming more familiar with using a computer for the internet and for typing documents. I am learning how to use different programs such as iWorks, downloading photos, managing my accounts, purchasing merchandise, watching movies and paying bills.

    Ashley: I've noticed that I rely on the internet so much. When I first started using it, it wasn't such a reliable source for me, and it also wasn't such an addiction. I feel like I use the internet so much now and I use it for everything. It is almost like a necessity. The internet has changed everyone I believe.

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